The New York Mets have secured superstar slugger Juan Soto on a historic 15-year, $765 million (£601m) contract, the largest in professional sports history. Soto’s deal surpasses Shohei Ohtani’s $700 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers and sets a new standard for baseball contracts.
The deal carries an average annual value (AAV) of $51 million (£40m), with an opt-out clause after the 2029 season. The Mets can negate the opt-out by increasing Soto’s AAV to $55 million (£43m) for the final 10 years.
Soto, 26, is coming off a career-best year with the New York Yankees, where he:
- Hit .288/.419/.569 with a .989 OPS.
- Set career highs in home runs (41) and runs scored (128).
- Finished third in AL MVP voting.
- Won a Silver Slugger award.
Soto also led all MLB players with a .421 career on-base percentage since debuting in 2018. He ranked second in walks (129), fourth in home runs, and sixth in RBIs (109) this past season. Soto joins a star-studded Mets roster as the franchise continues its push to build a World Series contender. Notable additions include:
- Clay Holmes: Three-year, $38 million deal.
- Francisco Lindor: 10-year, $341 million deal.
With Soto on board, the Mets rival the Los Angeles Dodgers for the league’s highest payroll, further intensifying the NL’s competitive landscape.
What’s Next for Soto and the Mets?
The signing is a clear statement of intent from the Mets, who aim to capitalize on Soto’s elite hitting and leadership in their pursuit of a championship. Soto’s opt-out clause after 2029 ensures he retains some control over his long-term future while providing the Mets flexibility to keep their star under team control with financial incentives.
Meanwhile, the Yankees’ loss of Soto highlights the growing rivalry in New York baseball, with the Mets seizing the spotlight in one of the biggest free-agent moves in history. Fans across MLB will eagerly watch how Soto’s presence reshapes the Mets and challenges the Dodgers’ dominance in the league.
