Juan Soto and the Yankees have agreed to a record contract — just for this year.
Soto's big payday awaits next offseason when he becomes a free agent, but the superstar outfielder and the Yankees have agreed to a $31 million salary for 2024, the Post's Joel Sherman reported Thursday.
The deal breaks the previous record for an arbitration-eligible player, set by two-way star Shohei Ohtani, who made $30 million with the Angels in 2023.
Ohtani, of course, received a 10-year, $700 million contract (with significant deferrals) from the Dodgers in free agency this offseason.
For now, the 25-year-old Soto will receive a big paycheck in the final year of arbitration. It's also his first year with the Yankees after being acquired in a blockbuster trade with the Padres in December.
The Yankees signed Soto with the understanding that he would only be there for one year, but if they aim to sign Soto to a long-term deal next offseason, avoiding an arbitration hearing would help get their relationship off to a good start. . .
“The future is always now,” Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said a day after the Soto acquisitions of Michael King, Kyle Higashioka, Drew Thorpe, Randy Vasquez and Johnny Brito. “[Soto is] He will be a free agent at the end of this season. We understand that this is a situation that could occur in the short term. I know he will greatly improve our team.”
According to the current roster, Soto will be the Yankees' fourth-highest paid player in 2024, behind Aaron Judge ($40 million), Gerrit Cole ($36 million), and Giancarlo Stanton ($32 million). You will receive it.
With the additions of Soto, Trent Grisham, Alex Verdugo and Marcus Stroman reaching agreement on Thursday night, the Yankees' luxury tax payroll in 2024 is expected to exceed $300 million for the first time in franchise history. (excluding trade).
They're still looking to add a top pitcher to their rotation, which could push his salary past the $297 million mark.
The Yankees agreed to contracts with all arbitration-eligible players by Thursday's deadline.
Their 2024 salaries, as reported by Joel Sherman and Jon Heyman of the Post, are as follows:
- Gleyber Torres: $14.2 million
- Alex Verdugo: $8.7 million
- Clay Holmes: $6 million, with chance to earn an additional $50,000 in performance bonuses
- Trent Grisham: $5.5 million
- Nestor Cortez: $3.95 million
- Jose Trevino: $2.73 million
- Jonathan Loaisiga: $2.5 million
- Clark Schmidt: $2,025,000
- Victor Gonzalez: $860,000
