Oct 28, 2024; New York, New York, USA; New York Yankees outfielder Juan Soto (22) walks during the sixth inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers in game three of the 2024 MLB World Series at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images
December 9 – Superstar Juan Soto made professional sports history on Sunday night, agreeing to a 15-year, $765 million contract — the largest deal in professional sports history — with the New York Mets, according to multiple media reports.
None of the money in the deal is deferred, and the contract could end up being worth over $800 million, per ESPN.
Soto, 26, joins the Mets after spending one season with the crosstown rival Yankees, who offered the outfielder a one-year, $21.05 million qualifying offer that was turned down back on Nov. 19.
The New York Post reported that the Yankees were willing to fork out $760 million over 16 years to bring back Soto, but the Mets ended up outbidding them.
Soto helped the Yankees reach the World Series in 2024 after hitting .288 with a career-high 41 home runs and 109 RBIs in 157 regular-season games. In the Fall Classic, Soto posted a .313 average and blasted a solo shot to account for his only RBI of the series, a five-game set that the Los Angeles Dodgers took 4-1.
In 936 career games across seven major league seasons with the Washington Nationals (2018-22), San Diego Padres (2022-23) and Yankees (2024), Soto has clubbed 201 homers, racked up 592 RBIs and is a .285 hitter.
Since finishing second in National League Rookie of the Year voting in 2018, Soto has gone on to earn four All-Star selections and five Silver Slugger Awards. He was also a World Series champion with Washington in 2019.
The Mets came up just short of the World Series this year, falling to the Dodgers in the NL Championship Series in six games.
