New York Yankees- Juan Soto has reportedly agreed to an extraordinary 15-year, $765 million contract with the New York Mets, a deal that could potentially escalate to $805 million depending on certain conditions. This contract, which is subject to a successful physical, is widely believed to be the largest and longest in Major League Baseball history, surpassing the previous record set by Shohei Ohtani’s $700 million, 10-year contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers, signed in December 2023.

The agreement between Soto and the Mets was reached just ahead of the first full day of baseball’s winter meetings, with Soto spurning a competing offer from the New York Yankees. The Yankees had offered him a 16-year deal worth $760 million, which would have given him an average annual value (AAV) of $47.5 million. However, Soto’s contract with the Mets will have a higher AAV of $51 million, as it does not include any deferred money, unlike Ohtani’s deal, which had $680 million in deferred payments.

Soto’s new contract is not only the richest in MLB history, but also the longest, surpassing Fernando Tatis Jr.’s 14-year, $340 million deal with the San Diego Padres. The contract also contains an opt-out clause after the 2029 season, giving Soto the right to renegotiate if the Mets do not raise his average annual salary by $4 million per year at that time. Additionally, Soto will receive a $75 million signing bonus, which will be paid upon the deal’s approval by Major League Baseball’s commissioner’s office.

At just 26 years old, Soto is already one of the most accomplished free agents to ever hit the market. He has been named an All-Star four times and has earned a reputation as one of the game’s most potent hitters. Soto made his MLB debut at age 19 with the Washington Nationals in 2018, quickly becoming a key figure in their 2019 World Series championship run. He later turned down a massive $440 million, 15-year extension offer from the Nationals before being traded to San Diego in 2022, and then to the Yankees in December 2023.

In his final season with the Yankees in 2024, Soto posted an impressive .288 batting average with 41 home runs, 109 RBIs, and 129 walks, contributing significantly to the Yankees’ offense. His leadership in the postseason, including hitting crucial home runs in the AL Championship Series, helped propel the team to the World Series. Over seven seasons in the majors, Soto has accumulated 201 home runs, 592 RBIs, and 769 walks, cementing his place as one of the top talents in baseball.

Soto’s monumental deal reflects his immense talent and marketability, solidifying his status as one of the premier players in the sport for years to come.