On the eve of baseball’s winter meetings, Juan Soto answered the question on everyone’s mind: where will he play in 2025 (and well beyond)? Turns out Soto loved New York – he and the New York Mets reportedly agreed to a 15-year, $765 million mega-deal Sunday evening.
It is the richest known contract in sports history after Shohei Ohtani’s 10-year, $700 million deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers last offseason, which included heavy postponements. Soto’s is also the longest contract in MLB history, surpassing Fernando Tatis’ 14-year, $340 million deal with the San Diego Padres.
Needless to say, the baseball world and beyond was abuzz when the news broke, with Cavs star and Mets fan Donovan Mitchell apparently welcoming Soto to New York via a FaceTime call.
It’s difficult to put Soto and this deal in context given how unique Soto was as a player and a free agent this winter.
Juan Soto is a four-time All-Star + just turned 26
on opening day he will play for his 4th MLB team
Soto will be the first player to make more than 4 All-Star teams AND change teams three times ALL before turning 27 (h/t @EliasSports) https://t.co/4K53OdhAZM
– Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) December 9, 2024
As times have changed…
Babies will be born and grow up, children will become adults in the era of Juan Soto, the Met. Ask if it’s a gamer’s market… 15 years.
– Melanie Newman (@MelanieLynneN) December 9, 2024
Much of the baseball world has revolved around the World Series champion Dodgers, but Mets owner Steve Cohen is significantly changing the conversation with this move.
SNY comes in with the news that Juan Soto is going to the Mets.
“For the Mets to come in and do this huge deal. That, to me, proves that Steve Cohen, when he wants a player, can go out and get him and use the power of his wallet to do it.”
-Anthony McCarron. pic.twitter.com/ZlHvGHm93H
– Awful Announcement (@awfulannouncing) December 9, 2024
