All signs were pointing to MLB's Winter Meetings. new york mets They were going to make their best offer to free agent slugger Juan Soto.
Apparently those reports were accurate.
Soto has agreed to a stunning contract with the Mets, according to multiple baseball sources. The deal is for 15 years and includes a total value of $765 million, according to Jeff Passan. As Passan notes here, this is the biggest deal in the history of professional sports.
BREAKING: Superstar outfielder Juan Soto and the New York Mets have agreed to a 15-year, $765 million contract, sources tell ESPN. This is the largest deal in the history of professional sports.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) December 9, 2024
But that's not all. A subsequent message from Passan said Soto's contract includes no deferrals and an escalator that could push the contract value to $800 million.
Juan Soto's 15-year, $765 million contract with the New York Mets includes no deferred payments and an escalator that could exceed $800 million, according to sources. That's what it means.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) December 9, 2024
This contract exceeds the 10-year, $700 million contract the Los Angeles Dodgers signed with Shohei Ohtani last offseason. However, Ohtani deferred $680 million of that contract, while Soto's contract reportedly has no deferment money.
As previously mentioned, baseball insiders believe that Mets owner Steve Cohen has sought Soto's services as the Mets aim to return to the World Series for the first time since 2015 and win the World Series for the first time since the Mets. I believed that I would never win. 1986. Soto's left-handed swing seems to be a good fit at Citi Field, posting a slash line of .333/.466/.709 in 35 games at his new home. 12 home runs, OPS 1.175.
Is it worth up to $800 million?
We'll soon find out.
