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Exclusive | Experts predict potential historic Juan Soto contract with Yankees, Mets in running

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Exclusive | Experts predict potential historic Juan Soto contract with Yankees, Mets in running

Thirteen experts polled by The Post predict, on average, that Yankees slugging superstar Juan Soto will land a record $520.09 million contract.

Expert predictions (agents not connected to Soto’s rep, BorasCorp) range from “[Mike] Trout’s contract” ($426M) to $600M.

The predictions were as follows (some included years, which precede the money here):

Juan Soto is set to cash in this offseason. Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports
  • $540-$550 million
  • 14 years, $550 million
  • 10 years, 550 million
  • 12 years, $600 million
  • 10 years, $500 million
  • 12 years, $480 million
  • 13 years, $520 million
  • $450-$500 million
  • $500-$550 million
  • $550-million plus
  • $500 million
  • “Trout’s contract (12 years, $426.5 million)”
  • “Definitely more in present-day value than (Shohei) Ohtani’s $437.4 million”
  • “A lot of cake”

I took the average of guesses that are ranges, and didn’t estimate any figure for “more than [Ohtani]” or “a lot of cake.”

Beyond being an all-time great hitter, Soto’s other major advantage is he’s 25, which means about four or five more of the best years than the average free-agent star.

Ohtani’s $700M deal (with $680M deferred) is still relevant, as is Aaron Judge’s $360M deal, but those superstars were about 30 upon signing.

Alex Rodriguez at 25 doubled the highest contract in North American sports back in 2000 ($252M to $126M for Kevin Garnett).

Mike Trout signed a 12-year $426.5 million deal with the Angels. Kiyoshi Mio-USA TODAY Sports
Shohei Ohtani deferred the majority of his $700 million contract. Getty Images

One other contract to consider is the $325M Dodgers deal (plus $50.6M posting fee) for Japanese import Yoshinobu Yamamoto, also 25. Soto himself turned down $440M over 15 years from his original Nationals.

A couple of agents suggested they believe the Yankees would prefer to limit Soto’s annual salary to Judge’s $40M, though Soto will be 4 ¹/₂ years younger for free agency, and it’s unlikely the win-obsessed Judge minds being the second-highest paid Yankee. (I don’t believe that’s the case, anyway.)

Beyond his $550M-plus guess, one agent added: “If the Yankees and Mets get into a pissing match, the sky’s the limit.”

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