DALLAS — Juan Soto is headed to the Mets on a record 15-year contract worth $765 million, with muscle flexes that will resonate during and after the game.
Some questions to consider following a historic contract:
What does this mean for Pete Alonso?
That could very well mean he heads to the Yankees, who have plenty of money with Soto out and are in need of more power and a first baseman.
Alonso, 30, had a down year by his standards last season, hitting .240/.329/.459 with 34 home runs and 88 RBIs.
This is certainly not the walk-on year he was hoping for, as he turned down a seven-year, $158 million contract extension offer last season that was reported by the paper's Joel Sherman.
Alonso has repeatedly said he wants to remain with the Mets, but the Soto deal may have diminished that possibility.
Even so, he is part of the fabric of the organization and it would not be surprising if both sides found common ground on a new contract.
The Mets still have a lot of needs, but now what?
First and foremost, the team needs another starting pitcher (at least one), even after adding Frankie Montas and Clay Holmes in recent weeks.
Sean Manaea, who was excellent for the team last season, is a free agent, but Soto's big contract eliminates the possibility of the Mets offering a pitcher a contract that could approach or exceed nine figures. I have to wonder if it is.
Walker Buehler and Nathan Eovaldi are among the names that make sense for the Mets, who watched Luis Severino leave the Athletics last week on a three-year deal worth $67 million.
Follow The Post's coverage of Juan Soto's historic blockbuster deal with the Mets.
How much will this salary increase?
According to FanGraphs, the Mets will pay $251 million in luxury taxes next season, including Soto's contract.
As such, it's possible (with Alonso's presence looming large) that the Mets could exceed the $301 million threshold for the highest level of penalties under the competitive balance tax system.
Does it matter to Francisco Lindor that Soto more than doubled his contract?
That can't be true.
Let's start with the fact that Lindor decided to forgo free agency and accept a 10-year contract worth $341 million after joining the Mets in a trade.
Also, Soto is only 26 years old, and the economics of baseball have changed in the four years since Lindor was traded to the Mets.
The Mets do seem to be stocking up on the former Yankee, but could there be a connection?
Last season's list included Severino and Harrison Bader.
Holmes, Montas and Soto this offseason.
Part of it is a coincidence, but manager Carlos Mendoza (former Yankees coach) has valued his input in organizational decisions.
Soto never hesitates, no matter where he's played before.
