MLB Rumors: Juan Soto and Mets Reach Agreement on Record 15-Year, $765M Contract; Potential of Exceeding $800 Million

There’s nothing quite so stimulating as seeing an idea come alive – be it through art, writing or anything else – Adam Hunger/Getty ImagesJuan Soto made headlines last summer after signing a one-year free agent deal with the Bronx Mets. ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported that Soto will sign a 15-year, $765 million contract to join New York, making this move one of the highest paid contracts ever seen in professional sports history. Passan explained that Soto’s contract contains no deferments and includes an escalator capable of reaching above $800 million, according to MLB Network’s Jon Morosi. MLB Network reported that after five years his opt-out is available. Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reported that, should Soto opt out after five years, they can nullify that decision by increasing his average annual value from $51M to $55M over his last ten years in contract terms. At the time they acquired Juan Soto from San Diego Padres in December 2023, New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman immediately signed him to a one-year, $31 million deal in order to avoid arbitration proceedings and lock him up through 2024 as free agent. Cashman stated before spring training began that it wasn’t expected Soto would sign an extension deal before becoming free agent after 2024 campaign and Brian Hoch @BryanHoch noted “it appears likely this situation may only last one season before becoming free agent again after 2024 campaign ends” before becoming free agent at that point in 2024 campaign.Bryan Hoch @BryanHoch confirmed this statement on Soto before saying it’s likely this will happen and that Free Agent status can then come into force before becoming free agent at that time of course “Given Soto’s age and track record of success, his path was clear to entering free agency and signing one of MLB history’s richest contracts. Shohei Ohtani and Mike Trout are currently the only players with deals worth over $400 million, while Soto has previously declined a 15-year, $440 million extension offered to him by Washington Nationals that caused them to trade him away to San Diego. Soto was seeking to maximize his negotiating leverage with Scott Boras being his agent; thus it would have been surprising if the Yankees had managed to sign him before free agency arrived. Soto only added more value by his performance here in New York. He earned a place as a starter on the AL All-Star squad at 26. Soto’s stat line in 2018 was remarkable – hitting.2888/.419/.569 for 41 home runs at an OPS+ of 173. Adding to his potency during the postseason – particularly his go-ahead homer to send the Yankees through to the World Series was key! Since joining Major League Baseball as an 18 year-old in 2018 when called up from Single A, Soto has only done one thing; hit. His lifetime OPS+ of 160 is currently 19th-best among MLB history. Soto is currently only bested in OPS+ by Mike Trout (173) and Aaron Judge (173); Mets owner Steve Cohen has not hesitated to make big moves that might increase his team’s chances of reaching a World Series, though his aggressive nature sometimes backfires on him. Midway through 2023 season when their team was faltering badly, the Mets made use of Cohen’s considerable bank account by trading Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer away to other teams for some cash relief. Other times too, his deep wallet has worked in their favour. There won’t be many fans in Queens who are disgruntled that Francisco Lindor is currently MLB’s highest-paid shortstop, though every deal of this magnitude carries with it some degree of risk; nevertheless, few believe Soto will disappoint the Mets anytime soon in terms of salary commitment or production. At age 29, Lindor may well be one of the greatest hitters in baseball and should continue his high level performance for several more years, given his age. Lindor helped lift the Mets within two victories of making a World Series run last season without their lineup being particularly potent; that should change now with Lindor and Soto hitting at the top of their order, looking to return them to postseason play after their surprising run last season.