Mets, Juan Soto Agree To A 15-year, $765,000,000 Contract

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Steve Cohen, the wealthiest owner in Major League Baseball, is no stranger to shelling out large contracts, and in the highly anticipated Juan Soto sweepstakes, Cohen did just that. Juan Soto agreed to a 15-year, $765m deal with no deferred money, which could be worth over $800m if he opts into the remainder of the contract after year 5.

Soto, coming off of a career season, deserved this colossal payday. He finished second in American League MVP voting by hitting 41 homers, a .288 average, and 109 RBIs.  Was it a bit of an overpay? Maybe. The Mets are in it for the long haul, and Cohen is one of the few owners willing to spend the big dollars. This contract topped Shohei Ohtani’s lucrative contract with the Dodgers at 10 years, at $700m, with $680m deferred until the contract's end.

This move leaves a bitter taste in Yankees’ fan mouths, as he was on the team for one season and played a huge role in leading them to an AL Pennant, and now is heading for their cross-town rival. This loss is challenging for fans of the Bronx Bombers because they offered Soto a similar deal at 16 years, $760m. However, we knew Soto made it clear he was signing with the top dollar offer, regardless of the prospects of winning immediately. The Yankees will continue their winning ways with or without Soto, as they have done throughout history.

Soto is getting paid what he is worth. He hit the market when top free agents are getting paid in the hundreds of millions—numbers that players a decade or two ago could barely begin to comprehend making. We are only a few years away from the possibility of a one-billion-dollar contract—who might sign it is yet to be seen, but we cannot rule anything out with the way free agent contracts have gone these past 2-4 years.