New Delhi: Juan Soto is on the brink of signing the most lucrative deal in sports history. The 26-year-old Dominican outfielder has reportedly agreed to a 15-year, $765 million (£600 million) contract with the New York Mets. If confirmed, the deal will surpass Shohei Ohtani’s $700 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers in terms of total value.
Soto is set to receive a $75 million signing bonus, and the agreement will involve no deferred payments, unlike many other high-value contracts in Major League Baseball (MLB). A medical check is pending before the Mets can officially announce the deal.
Juan Soto bags the largest contract in sports history
JUAN SOTO IS A NEW YORK MET pic.twitter.com/szysFUJT5L
— SNY Mets (@SNY_Mets) December 9, 2024
This deal solidifies Soto’s position as one of the most valuable athletes in sports. In baseball, it eclipses Shohei Ohtani’s landmark deal with the Dodgers, which includes significant deferred payments. Soto’s agreement contrasts with the long-standing trend of spreading payments over decades, which often reduces the real-time value of deals.
For comparison, NFL stars like Patrick Mahomes and Dak Prescott hold contracts worth $450 million and $240 million, respectively, while NBA player Jayson Tatum has a $314 million deal. Football icons Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi also hold eye-watering contracts, but none come close to the overall value of Soto’s new deal.
Soto was highly sought after as a free agent. The Yankees, his former team, offered a 16-year deal worth $760 million, which the Mets ultimately outbid.
Soto’s outstanding performances in the 2024 season with the Yankees—batting .288 with 41 home runs—helped his team reach the World Series, although they lost to the Dodgers. With this record-breaking contract, the Mets have not only secured a generational talent but also set a new benchmark in sports economics.
Dominican baseball player Juan Soto’s reported $765 million contract with the New York Mets makes it the most valuable deal in sports history. Other Sports Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
