Juan Soto $765 million contract: Where does the Mets star’s deal rank among biggest deals in MLB history?
Juan Soto signed the biggest contract in professional sports history when he agreed to join the New York Mets on a 15-year $765 million deal.
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Juan Soto (Image via NY Post)
Four-time MLB All-Star Juan Soto broke the internet last week when he agreed to join the New York Mets. The Dominican international penned down a 15-year $765 million deal, making this the biggest deal in the history of professional sports.
Soto, who became a free agent after the conclusion of the World Series, was expected to land a big deal. Rumors started speculating that the number involved in his next contract could be near $600 million.
However, Soto shattered that amount when he picked up the Mets’ offer of $765 million. This is $5 million more than what the New York Yankees, the team with whom Soto spent his 2024 season, had offered.
Soto will now earn a staggering $51 million as a yearly salary from the 2025 season. This number could rise to $55 million if he does not opt out of his contract by the 2029 season. If Soto does not opt out by that time, the total price of this deal will increase to $805 million.
As mentioned above, this is the biggest deal in sports history. This obviously means that this deal is also the biggest in MLB. However, where does this deal rank among some of the biggest deals in MLB history? Let’s delve deeper and find out.
Juan Soto’s deal with the NY Mets
Before ranking and comparing other deals with Juan Soto‘s one, lets break down his deal. Soto will earn $51 million as an Average Annual Value (AAV). One of the biggest things about this contract is that there is no deferred money.
Soto will earn a staggering $8.5 million per month. The outfielder is expected to make an amount of $314,815 per game. As per hourly basis, the 26-year-old will earn $133,396, making him one of the highest paid players in MLB.
Comparing and Rankings other big deals with Juan Soto’s deal based on impact on the team
1. Shohei Ohtani
Just a year ago in December 2023, Shohei Ohtani was the one making the headlines. The Japanese international signed a massive 10-year $700 million deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers. At that time, it seemed this would be the record-breaking deal for any player in the league for a while.
Though he did not pitch this year, the two-way star more than lived up to the expectations of many. Ohtani hit 54 home runs in the regular season and founded the 50-50 club.
In his first postseason appearance, the 2024 National League MVP hit three more runs. While he may have not contributed much in the World Series, while keeping in mind that he injured himself in Game 2, Ohtani did what the Dodgers had brought him for. He defeated Soto and his New York Yankees to win the crown in his very first season. So far, so good.
2. Mookie Betts
Staying in LA with the Dodgers, the second-best deal when compared to the impact is Mookie Betts‘ 12-year $365 million contract extension. After making a huge name for himself with the Boston Red Sox, the shortstop joined the Dodgers in 2020 through a trade.
Since then, he has gone on to be one of the team’s biggest stars. In the COVID-shortened season, Betts hit 16 home runs and won his second World Series that year. Despite missing 40 games in 2021, Betts was able to hit 23 home runs.
In the next two years, the shortstop continued to slam big home runs. This year, he once again faced some health problems but still managed to connect 19 bombs. The former AL MVP has made four All-Star appearances since joining the Dodgers.
This deal is so far one of the best-worked deals in MLB history.
![Juan Soto [Image Credit: Imago]](https://firstsportz.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Juan-Soto-3-600x338.jpg)
3. Aaron Judge
Following a monstrous season in 2022 where he hit 62 home runs, Aaron Judge became a free agent. The slugger would later work out on a 9-year $360 million deal with the New York Yankees and became the 15th captain in the franchise history.
Since signing the deal, Judge has shown no signs of stopping. Yeah yeah, he did “struggle” in the 2024 postseason, but he had another great regular season. The slugger once again crossed the 50 home run mark as he hit 58 home runs.
In two years since re-signing with the Yankees, Judge has hit 95 home runs. He has a stat line of .300/.438/.666/ since the 2023 season and won the American League MVP honor in 2024. The only thing that is missing is a World Series ring.
4. Francisco Lindor
For several years, Francisco Lindor was the face of the Cleveland Guardians franchise. Dubbed “Mr. Smile”, Lindor spent six seasons with the Guardians (then called Indians) and made a huge name for himself. With the New York Mets emerging as a powerhouse in 2020, after Steve Cohen brought them, Lindor was traded to them in 2021.
Just hours before the Opening Day in 2021, Lindor and the Mets agreed on a 10-year $341 million contract extension. Since then, he has slowly become an important part of the Mets lineup.
While Lindor has somehow not made the All-Star team in his four years with the Mets, his last two seasons have shown improvements. He won the Silver Slugger award in 2023 and 2024 and finished as runner-up in the 2024 NL MVP race behind Ohtani. With Soto now joining him, the Mets have become one of the top contenders for the 2025 World Series crown.
5. Gerrit Cole
When it comes to money, Gerrit Cole‘s 9-year $324 million deal is not even in the top 10 biggest deals. However, he has had one of the biggest impacts of players who signed lucrative deals in the MLB.
![Gerrit Cole [Image Credit: Imago]](https://firstsportz.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Gerrit-Cole-1-1200x675.jpg)
Cole joined the Yankees in 2019 after finishing as a runner-up in the Cy Young Award. Since joining the Yanks, he has become their ace pitcher. In his five-year stay so far with the Yankees, Cole has pitched with an ERA of 3.43.
In the 2023 season, the Yankees did not have a good time. Despite their struggles, Cole was one of them who shined the brightest. His performances that year earned him his first Cy Young Award. Since he arrived in the Bronx, Cole has been named an All-Star on three occasions. On his day, he is one of the toughest pitchers to go up against.
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Vinay Dave
(1670 Articles Published)