Juan Soto’s free agency saga has finally come to an end with the 26-year-old signing a $765million deal with the New York Mets, according to a report.
Both New York teams, the Boston Red Sox and Toronto Blue Jays were battling alongside the Los Angeles Dodgers to sign the slugger, who hit 41 home runs for the Yankees in the 2024 regular season before entering free agency.
But the multi-million-dollar dogfight for his signature has finally come to an end after the Dominican star finally crowned a winner Sunday night.
Soto has abandoned the Bronx for the Yankees’ cross-town rivals the New York Mets, inking a $765m, 15-year deal, according to multiple reports.
The contract marks the largest deal in professional sports history, beating Shohei Ohtani’s blockbuster commitment to the Dodgers last year.
And, unlike the Japanese two-way star’s deal, not a dime of Soto’s with the Mets is deferred with the contract having the potential to reach upwards of $800m, according to Jeff Passan.
Juan Soto’s free agency saga has finally come to an end, inking a $765m, 15-year deal
Soto abandoned the Yankees’ cross-town rivals the New York Mets (pictured: owner Steve Cohen)
Ohtani’s $700m agreement included $680m in deferred payments and is valued at just under $46.1m for baseball’s luxury tax.
Meanwhile, Soto’s deal also tops Fernando Tatis Jr.’s $340m, 14-year contract with San Diego that runs through 2034.
The outfielder had been a crucial member of the Yankees’ lineup last season, firing the Pinstripes to the World Series alongside Aaron Judge.
And Brian Cashman, Aaron Boone and co. had reportedly been desperate to bring him back to the Bronx to launch another offensive at the championship series.
But just a little over a month on from their heartbreak, losing to the Los Angeles Dodgers in five games, their superstar slipped through their fingers.
Their reported bid of $760m over 16 years wasn’t enough to prevent Soto from swapping one New York borough for another.
Soto batted .288 with 41 homers, 109 RBIs and 129 walks, hitting second in the batting order ahead of Judge to power an offense that led the major leagues with 237 homers.
He hit a go-ahead homer in the AL Championship Series opener against Cleveland and a tiebreaking, three-run homer in the 10th inning that won the pennant against the Guardians in Game 5.
The Yankees’ reported bid of $760m over 16 years wasn’t enough to prevent Soto from leaving
The outfielder had been a crucial member of the Yankees’ lineup last season with Aaron Judge
Soto batted .288 with 41 homers, 109 RBIs and 129 walks, hitting second in the batting order
The contract marks the largest deal in professional sports history, beating Shohei Ohtani’s
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 had 41 home runs last year to go with an impressive .418 on-base percentage and league-best 128 runs scored, all of which makes him one of the most coveted free agents in baseball history.
Soto had reportedly met with the Yankees, Mets, Los Angeles Dodgers, Boston Red Sox and Toronto Blue Jays.
Soto’s agent, Scott Boras, asked teams to submit initial offers by Thanksgiving and says Soto has started to eliminate clubs from consideration.
‘He’s just got a lot of information to meld through,’ Boras said Tuesday after the Los Angeles Dodgers’ news conference to introduce Blake Snell, another of his clients. ‘Juan is a very methodical thinker.’
Soto finished third in AL MVP voting after hitting .288 with 41 homers, 109 RBIs and 129 walks. He has a .285 career average with 201 homers, 592 RBIs and 769 walks over seven major league seasons.
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 was traded that August to San Diego . Following the death of Padres owner Peter Seidler, Soto was dealt to the Yankees in December 2023 and helped New York reach the World Series for the first time since 2009.
