- Juan Soto has moved across New York after becoming a free agent
- Deal for 26-year-old outfielder is biggest in sporting history
- Contract will keep Soto at the Mets for 15 years
Fresh from helping power the New York Yankees to their first World Series appearance in 15 years, Juan Soto has now decided to call time on his spell at Yankee Stadium. But not on his time in New York. The 26-year-old superstar is set to move to the Mets in a record-breaking 15-year deal worth a reported $765m.
The contract will become the richest in sporting history and represents a major move for the Mets, who reached the National League Championship Series, last season, before succumbing to eventual World Series champions the LA Dodgers.
Soto could have even ended up at the Dodgers, with the world champions registering an interest in the Dominican outfielder, along with the Red Sox and the Blue Jays. There had also been plenty of speculation suggesting that Soto would actually remain with the Yankees and agree a new deal with the franchise with whom he had already enjoyed tremendous success.
However, with Steve Cohen’s billions at their disposal, the Mets tabled the most appealing offer to the 26-year-old, with baseball’s wealthiest owner outbidding the Yankees’ proposal of 16 years at $760m.
Soto’s representatives had made it clear to all potential suitors that the World Series champion would join the team who tabled the biggest deal, leaving the door open for the Mets to make a statement signing that will send reverberations around all of Major League Baseball.
Since arriving in MLB as a 19-year-old prodigy at the Washington Nationals in 2018, Soto has solidifed himself as one of the greatest players of the modern era. He was a major part of the Nationals’ World Series success in 2019 and his 201 Home Runs and 592 RBIs with an OPS of .953 over the course of his seven-year Major League career make it clear as to why so much money has been thrown at the four-time All Star by the Mets.
Despite falling just short of a second World Series success last season, with the Yankees, Soto enjoyed a campaign for the ages, with a career high 41 Home Runs and trailing only Yankees teammate Aaron Judge in on-base percentage across the majors.
Soto’s $765m deal eclipses the 10-year $700m deal that saw Shohei Ohtani join the LA Dodgers last year. However, Soto will earn all of his money while still an active player, whereas Ohtani’s monster contract will see the Japanese two-way star pocket the majority of his upon retirement.
It is believed an opt-out clause after five years has been inserted into Soto’s contract with the Mets.
(h/t The Guardian)
