Major League Baseball star Juan Soto and the New York Mets have agreed to a record $US765 million ($1.2 billion), 15-year contract – a deal that could eventually be worth more than $US800 million.
A person familiar with the deal spoke to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the agreement, first reported by the New York Post, was subject to a successful physical. It is believed to be the largest pact in team sports history.
Juan Soto will sign with the Mets for a record figure.Credit: AP
The outfielder would have the right to opt out of the contract after the 2029 season if the Mets don’t at that time raise the contract to $US805 million by increasing the average annual value by $US4 million annually. Soto will get a $US75 million signing bonus, payable upon the deal’s approval by the commissioner’s office.
All eyes have been on Soto this post-season as the baseball world waited to see where he would sign. He played with the New York Yankees in 2024 and made it all the way to the World Series, where they lost to the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The Yankees’ final offer to retain Soto was for $US760 million over 16 years, a second person familiar with the talks said, also on condition of anonymity because that detail was not announced. That offer had a $US47.5 million average annual value.
Instead, he will play for the Yankees’ cross-city rivals.
Soto’s deal is the largest and longest in Major League Baseball history, topping Shohei Ohtani’s $US700 million, 10-year contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers, a deal signed last December. That agreement included $US680 million in deferred payments and is valued at just under $US46.1 million for baseball’s luxury tax.
Soto’s agreement, struck with a team controlled by MLB’s wealthiest owner in Steve Cohen, does not include deferred money, the person said. Soto’s brother Elian posted a video to Instagram with a Mets gif, showing his brother celebrating.
While there are no definitive records in sports beyond the United States, Soto’s deal is thought to eclipse those in all other team sports. The deal was reached on the eve of the first full day of baseball’s annual winter meetings.
Its length tops Fernando Tatis jnr’s $US340 million, 14-year contract with San Diego that runs through 2034.
A four-time All-Star at age 26, Soto is the most accomplished free agent at that age since shortstop Alex Rodriguez agreed to a record $US252 million, 10-year contract with Texas in December 2000 at age 25.
Soto was 19 when he made his major league debut with Washington in 2018 and helped the Nationals win the World Series the following year, when he hit .282 with 34 homers while batting in 110 runs.
He turned down Washington’s $US440 million, 15-year offer in 2022 and was traded that August to San Diego. Following the death of Padres owner Peter Seidler, Soto was dealt to the Yankees in December 2023 and helped New York reach the World Series for the first time since 2009.
Soto batted .288 with 41 homers, batted in 109 runs and took 129 walks, hitting second in the batting order ahead of fellow outfield star Aaron Judge to power an offence that led the major leagues with 237 homers. He hit a home run to give the Yankees the lead over Cleveland in the opening game of the American league’s championship series, and a tie-breaking, three-run homer in the 10th inning that won the pennant against the Guardians in game five and sent New York to the World Series.
Soto has a .285 batting average with 201 homers, 592 runs batted in and 769 walks over seven major league seasons.
AP
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