Juan Soto of the New York Yankees bats during the eighth inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers during Game 5 of the 2024 World Series at Yankee Stadium on October 30, 2024 in New York.
Jim McIsaac | Getty Images Sports | Getty Images
The New York Mets and superstar outfielder Juan Soto have reached agreement on a 15-year contract worth $765 million, according to multiple reports on Sunday. This is the largest contract in sports history.
The decision brought Soto, a former Yankee, across the city to Queens, a bold move for a franchise that had long been overshadowed by the Bronx Bombers.
ESPN first reported Soto decides to leave Yankee Stadium Citi Field and Spendthrift Mets owner Steve Cohen — He reportedly spent an MLB-high $341.8 million on his 40-man roster through the 2024 season Baseball Prospectus Data.
this is the biggest Cohen has not yet investedhe’s not shy about opening his checkbook.
Shortstop Francisco Lindor in 10-year, $341 million contract. Cohen has already paid Max Scherzer $130 million and Justin Verlander $86.7 million forward He shipped it at the same time of big name pitcher Leaving in 2023.
This season, the Mets rallied after a 24-35 start to make the playoffs and beat the eventual world champion Los Angeles Dodgers National League Championship Series Game 6.
The NFC East club has a strong offense; Score 768 pointsseventh in baseball. Soto’s arrival should bolster the Mets offense, or at least soften the blow of a possible loss first baseman pete alonso Become a free agent.
Soto’s departure could be a major setback for the AL champion Yankees who lost the world series Five games against the Dodgers in October.
The Yankees are ranked third in baseball this year, scoring 815 runs against a top-heavy lineup, but now suddenly lose a key contributor.
Soto hit 109 runs for Yankees, forming a formidable trio American League MVP Aaron Judge (144) and Giancarlo Stanton (72).
But they were the only three Bombers with at least 72 RBIs, while the champion Dodgers had five hitters with at least 75 RBIs. In 2024, the Mets have five hitters with at least 69 RBIs.
Since then, the Mets have won two World Series (1969 and 1986) Their history began in 1962.
Although these two titles represent two of the most famous baseball teams of the 20th century – Miracle Mets and 1986 main lineup —The Mets have long been trying to get Overcoming long shadow casts Depend on 27 times champion Yankees.
Soto’s addition is the Mets’ most aggressive move yet aimed at taking the New York spotlight away from the Yankees.
The 26-year-old Soto is undoubtedly the most popular free agent this winter, valued as much for his baseball skills as his birth date.
Baseball players must invest Six years of MLB service before they are allowed to fully test free agency. Those six years of club control, along with lower-than-free-market salaries, could be a disincentive to signing free agents. may be approaching or have passed The peak of their sports is around 30 years old.
Soto broke into the majors at just 19 years old, setting the free agency clock at an early age and giving bidders a rare opportunity to sign a player with so many prime years left in his career. players.
He set a career high 41 home runs this season (fourth most) With 109 RBI points (sixth).
Soto was also one of the most disciplined and patient hitters in baseball, hitting the bases multiple times 18.1% home plate appearance ratecompared to MLB’s overall rate of 8.4%. 2024. In the era of popular baseball, he struck out only 16.7% of the time, and the league’s strikeout rate this season is only 22.2%.
