Heading into the MLB Winter Conferences, there was each indication that the New York Mets had been going to come back in with the highest supply without spending a dime agent slugger Juan Soto.
It appears these experiences had been correct.
In keeping with a number of baseball insiders, Soto has agreed to a staggering contract with the Mets. Per Jeff Passan, the deal is for 15 years, and incorporates a $765 million contract. As Passan notes right here, it’s the largest deal in skilled sports activities historical past:
BREAKING: Celebrity outfielder Juan Soto and the New York Mets are in settlement on a 15-year, $765 million contract, sources inform ESPN. It’s the largest deal in skilled sports activities historical past.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) December 9, 2024
However that’s not all. In keeping with a subsequent message from Passan, Soto’s contract doesn’t embody any deferred cash, and in addition incorporates escalators that might push the worth of the deal to $800 million:
Juan Soto’s 15-year, $765 million cope with the New York Mets contains no deferred cash, in keeping with sources, and has escalators that may attain above $800 million.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) December 9, 2024
The deal is available in above the Los Angeles Dodgers’ cope with Shohei Ohtani final low season, which was price $700 million over ten years. Nonetheless, Ohtani deferred $680 million of that contract, whereas in keeping with experiences Soto’s deal has no deferred cash.
As famous, baseball insiders believed that Mets proprietor Steve Cohen wouldn’t be out-bid for Soto’s providers, because the group seems to get again to the World Sequence for the primary time since 2015, and to win the World Sequence for the primary time since 1986. Soto’s left-handed swing appears to mesh effectively with Citi Area, as in his 35 video games at his new dwelling he has posted a slash line of .333/.466/.709 with 12 dwelling runs, for an OPS of 1.175.
Is that price as much as $800 million?
We’re about to seek out out.
