In a monumental move that has sent shockwaves through Major League Baseball, the New York Mets have signed former Yankees slugger Juan Soto to a historic 15-year, $765 million contract.
This deal marks the largest free-agent signing in MLB history, surpassing even Shohei Ohtani’s groundbreaking $700 million agreement with the Los Angeles Dodgers earlier this year.
Soto’s $51 million annual salary also sets a new league record for yearly player earnings.
The acquisition is widely seen as a major statement by Mets owner Steve Cohen, who has shown a willingness to invest heavily to push the team closer to a long-awaited World Series title.
The Mets’ blockbuster signing comes after a fierce bidding war involving clubs like the Yankees, Dodgers, Red Sox, and Blue Jays.
Both New York teams were reportedly in the final stages of negotiations, with the Yankees offering a 16-year, $760 million deal.
Cohen’s ability to outbid his crosstown rivals by a mere $5 million ensured Soto’s move to Queens.
Now with the Mets, Soto will team up with fellow MVP-contender Francisco Lindor and potentially Pete Alonso if the Mets secure a deal to retain their star slugger. (Although, he may very well end up in the Bronx.)
The 26-year-old Soto celebrated the announcement on Instagram with a champagne bath, captioned with a simple “Let’s go, Mets!”
The Mets fell just two games short of the World Series this past season, losing in the National League Championship Series to the Dodgers.
The Mets’ bold investment in Soto reflects lessons learned from the Dodgers, whose splurge on Ohtani contributed to their 2024 World Series win.
Soto’s age was a significant factor in the deal. Locking him in through his early 40s provides the Mets with a cornerstone player during his prime years.
The move also underscores Cohen’s ambition to elevate the Mets’ standing in New York’s baseball hierarchy, where they have long been viewed as playing second fiddle to the Yankees.
Soto’s decision to leave the Yankees for the Mets is quite unprecedented. After all, the Bombers are not used to losing a player who they truly want – especially to “little brother.”
When Cohen bought the team, Mets fans were hoping this day would eventually come. A day where they could compete financially with the big bad Yankees.
Not only did the Mets compete with the Yankees, they actually outbid them, which again, is quite unprecedented.
In fairness, you can’t necessarily kill the Yankees for losing out in the Soto sweepstakes. (Let’s be honest, the contract is bit insane.)
While money keeps going up and up in baseball, there’s an excellent chance this Soto deal will start to age poorly a decade from now.
On the other hand, there’s no salary cap in baseball, so it’s not the end of the world. Good for Cohen to put his money where his mouth is.
As long as the Mets win at least a couple World Series in the next 16 years, history will show that the deal was well worth it.
What are your thoughts on Soto’s historic contract???
