Major League Baseball’s offseason appears to be at a standstill as teams await outfielder Juan Soto’s decision on where he will commit long-term. With a number of franchises interested, the New York Mets and New York Yankees are seen as the frontrunners. Soto, who played the 2024 season with the Yankees, showcased his ability to excel under New York’s spotlight, earning a spot as a starter in the All-Star Game and capturing his fifth Silver Slugger Award. He’s also a finalist for the American League MVP.
Soto’s free agency value has peaked after an impressive season where he posted a .989 OPS, hit 41 home runs, and recorded 109 RBIs and 128 runs in 157 games, with Baseball Reference rating him at a career-high 7.9 WAR.
The Yankees face the challenge of trying to retain the star slugger with a lucrative long-term offer, but not everyone sees it happening. David Brown of Deadspin predicts that Soto will stay in New York but switch to the Mets, projecting a record-breaking 13-year, $702 million contract. If this deal comes to fruition, it would surpass Shohei Ohtani’s historic 10-year, $700 million contract with the Dodgers, which included deferred payments reducing its present-day value to roughly $460 million.
While Soto’s next contract has long been speculated to exceed $500 million, recent projections have crossed the $600 million mark. With Mets owner Steve Cohen’s deep pockets, securing Soto with a record-setting deal might not be a problem if Soto is open to joining the Mets.
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