The Juan Soto sweepstakes has reportedly come to a close.
The star outfielder agreed to a historic contract with the New York Mets for 15 years and $765 million, per the New York Post’s Jon Heyman and ESPN’s Jeff Passan. The Mets and owner Steve Cohen beat out several other contenders for Soto in the incumbent New York Yankees, Los Angeles Dodgers, Toronto Blue Jays and Boston Red Sox.
Soto’s deal officially takes over Shohei Ohtani’s deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers as the richest deal in MLB history and presents an average annual value of $51 million.
Soto’s reported signing marks the first massive domino to fall in what should quickly turn into a competitive week of free-agent spending and aggressive trades around the sport. Several impact starting pitchers and power bats should become an ultimate priority. Teams such as the Red Sox would certainly fall under that category.
Soto joins the Mets after New York fell just two wins shy of a World Series appearance in 2024 in the National League Championship Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Fellow superstar Francisco Lindor forms a formidable 1-2 punch with Soto in the Mets order.
The MLB Winter Meetings officially begin Monday, where more moves will be on the way.
