Dallas (AP) The New York Mets and star outfielder Juan Soto reached a record 15-year, $765 million contract Sunday, according to a person familiar with the matter who spoke to The Associated Press. The deal is thought to be the biggest in club sports history and could potentially reach $805 million.
Because the deal, which was originally reported by the New York Post, was pending a satisfactory physical examination, the individual spoke on condition of anonymity.
Soto’s contract is believed to surpass those in all other team sports, despite the fact that there are no conclusive records in sports outside of the US. On the eve of the first full day of baseball’s annual winter meetings, the trade was done, rejecting the New York Yankees’ request to keep the player who helped them win the World Series.
If the Mets don’t raise the average yearly value by $4 million by the 2029 season, he will have the option to opt out of the contract. If the commissioner’s office approves the deal, Soto will get a $75 million signing bonus.
Overtaking Shohei Ohtani’s $700 million, ten-year contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers, which was inked last December, Soto’s deal is the biggest and longest in Major League Baseball history. That deal, which is worth little less than $46.1 million a year for baseball’s luxury tax, included $680 million in deferred payments.
FILE – New York Yankees’ Juan Soto takes off his batting gloves after grounding out against the New York Yankees to end the third inning in Game 3 of the baseball World Series, on Oct. 28, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. V squez, File)
Image courtesy of Godofredo A. V. Squez/Associated Press
FILE – New York Yankees’ Juan Soto speaks during media day for the baseball World Series, Oct. 24, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez, File)
Associated Press/Julio Cortez photo
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According to the source, the average yearly worth of Soto’s agreement is $51 million as deferred money is not included. It is longer than Fernando Tatis Jr.’s 14-year, $340 million contract with San Diego, which expires in 2034.
The Yankees final offer to Soto was for $760 million over 16 years, a second person familiar with the talks said, also on condition of anonymity because that detail was not announced. The average annual value of that offer was $47.5 million.
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 $252 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 and 110 RBIs.
He turned down Washington s $440 million, 15-year offer in 2022 and wastraded that August to San Diego. Following thedeath of Padres owner Peter Seidler,Soto was dealt to the Yankees in December 2023and helped New York reach the World Series for the first time since 2009.
Soto batted .288 with 41 homers, 109 RBIs and 129 walks, hitting second in the batting order ahead of Aaron Judge to power an offense that led the major leagues with 237 homers. He hit ago-ahead homer in the AL Championship Series openeragainst Cleveland and atiebreaking, three-run homerin the 10th inning that won the pennant against the Guardians in Game 5.
Soto has a .285 batting average with 201 homers, 592 RBIs and 769 walks over seven major league seasons.
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