Juan Soto’s free agency saga has finally come to an end as the 26-year-old signed a $765 million deal with the New York Mets, according to a report.
Both New York teams, the Boston Red Sox and Toronto Blue Jays, are competing along with the Los Angeles Dodgers to sign the slugger, who hit 41 home runs for the Yankees in the 2024 regular season before heading to free agency.
But the multi-million dollar dogfight for his signature has finally come to an end after the Dominican star was finally crowned the winner on Sunday night.
According to multiple reports, Soto has left the Bronx for the Yankees’ cross-town rival, the New York Mets.
The contract marks the largest deal in the history of professional sports, surpassing Shohei Ohtani’s blockbuster involvement with the Dodgers last year.
And, unlike the Japanese two-time star’s deal, not a cent of Soto’s contract with the Mets will be deferred, with the contract having the potential to exceed $800 million, according to Jeff Passan.
Juan Soto’s free agency saga is finally over with a $765 million, 15-year contract
Soto left the Yankees’ rivals, the New York Mets (photo: owner Steve Cohen)
The outfielder was a crucial member of the Yankees’ lineup last season, steering the Pinstripes to the World Series along with Aaron Judge. And Brian Cashman, Aaron Boone and co. had reportedly been desperate to bring him back to the Bronx to launch a new offensive in the championship series.
But just over a month after their heartbreak, which saw them lose to the Los Angeles Dodgers in five games, their superstardom slipped through their fingers.
Their offer of $760 million over sixteen years was not enough to prevent Soto from leaving one New York neighborhood for another.
Soto had 41 home runs to go with an impressive .418 on-base percentage and a league-best 128 runs scored last year, 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 before Thanksgiving and says Soto has started leaving clubs out of consideration.
The Yankees’ reported offer of $760 million over 16 years wasn’t enough to keep Soto from leaving
“He just has a lot of information to process,” Boras said Tuesday after the Los Angeles Dodgers’ press conference to introduce Blake Snell, another of his clients. ‘Juan is a very methodical thinker.’
Soto is the best available player among this year’s free agents. Soto, a four-time All-Star, finished third in the AL MVP voting after hitting .288 with 41 home runs, 109 RBIs and 129 walks. He has a career average of .285 with 201 home runs, 592 RBIs and 769 walks over seven Major League seasons.
Soto turned down a $440 million, 15-year offer from Washington in 2022, prompting the Nationals to trade him to San Diego, which then dealt him to the Yankees last December. Soto then combined with Aaron Judge to lead New York to the World Series, where the Yankees lost to the Dodgers.
More to follow.