Juan Soto Signs Historic Contract, the Largest Deal in MLB History
LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 24: Juan Soto #22 of the New York Yankees poses for a photo during the workout day before the 2024 World Series at Dodger Stadium on Thursday, October 24, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Mary DeCicco/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
On Sunday night (December 8), the much-awaited bombshell every Major League Baseball fan was waiting for finally dropped: Juan Soto has agreed to a 15-year, $765 million contract with the New York Mets. He also has a signing bonus of $75 million. Jeff Passan of ESPN broke the news via X.
This contract is the largest deal in professional sports history. According to reports, there’s a scenario where the contract might actually exceed $800 million. Jorge Castillo and several other MLB reporters have indicated that if the Mets want to eliminate Soto’s opt-out clause after 2029, they would need to raise his annual salary from $51 million to $55 million each year beyond 2029.
Soto, the pride of Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic, was the most coveted free agent this MLB offseason. He joined a Mets team that took 2nd in their division but rode a hot streak all the way to the National League Championship series in the playoffs. They will now be heavy favorites in the National League East Division for the foreseeable future.
Soto already has a decorated MLB career. He signed with the Washington Nationals as an international free agent for a $1.5 million signing bonus in July 2015. By 2018, Soto was already on the Major League field and has been one of the best hitters in the game since the moment he debuted. By 2019, he won his first World Series with the Nationals.
In 2020, he took home his first Batting Title, and by 2021, he was an All-Star and the runner-up for the league’s Most Valuable Player. After being traded to the Padres, he helped lead their squad to a playoff appearance before being traded to the New York Yankees for the 2024 season. He helped that loaded Yankees squad reach the World Series against the Dodgers.
As a member of the Mets, he joins a team led by another perennial MVP candidate, Francisco Lindor.