
Star slugger Juan Soto’s free agency ended with the biggest deal in sports history. Soto reportedly agreed to a 15-year, $765 million deal with the New York Mets over the weekend.
Entering the free agency, Soto was considered the top available free agent on the market, with many predicting his new deal would top the $600 million mark. However, with a number of teams getting involved in the bidding, including the Mets, New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox, and Toronto Blue Jays, among others, the value of his deal now surpassed the record previously held by Shohei Ohtani and his 10-year, $700 million agreement with the LA Dodgers from last season.
The Mets were the most aggressive team in trying to land Soto, and the sentiment around the league was that they were willing to top any rival bid. After a surprising run to the NL Championship Series in 2024, the franchise felt they were positioned for long-term success but needed more star power to compete with the likes of the Yankees and the Dodgers.
For Soto, the record-breaking deal is a testament to his excellence on the field and his willingness to wait for the right moment to sign a long-term deal.
Soto made his MLB debut in 2018 with the Washington Nationals and managed to become an All-MLB First Team selection, receive the Silver Slugger Award, and win the World Series in his first three years in the majors. The Nationals recognized Soto’s potential and offered him a massive 15-year, $440 million extension in 2022, but the player wisely opted to wait out.
After rejecting the deal, Soto wound up being traded to the San Diego Padres and later landed with the Yankees. He didn’t miss a beat with his new teams, becoming a perennial All-Star and further driving his price up. This was particularly the case in 2024 when he batted .288 with 41 home runs and 109 RBIs while leading the American League with 128 runs.