Baseball Sensation Juan Soto Strikes Unprecedented 15-Year, $765 Million Contract with New York Mets | US News
A superstar in baseball has reportedly finalized a groundbreaking 15-year deal worth $765 million (£600 million) with the New York Mets, marking one of the most lucrative contracts in sports history.
Juan Soto, 26 years old, is set to join the Mets after a season with the New York Yankees, their cross-town rivals.
According to ESPN, the agreement includes an opt-out clause after five years, with the potential for the deal to exceed $800 million (£626 million).
The Yankees were prepared to extend a $760 million (£595 million) offer over 16 years to the Dominican outfielder but were ultimately outbid by the Mets, as reported by The New York Post.
Despite his youth, Soto has proven himself as one of Major League Baseball’s premier hitters and stands alongside some of the sport’s all-time greats.
In August 2019, he became the fourth player in major league history to achieve 100 extra-base hits before reaching 21 years of age.
Soto is also one of only seven players to have recorded a 30-plus home run season before turning 21.
He was part of the Washington Nationals’ World Series championship team in 2019.
The agreement with the Mets is anticipated to be the largest and longest in MLB history, surpassing Shohei Ohtani’s $700 million (£548 million), 10-year contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers signed last December.
Shortly after the signing, reports indicated that Ohtani was deferring $68 million (£53 million) of the $70 million (£55 million) he is scheduled to receive each season, with Los Angeles set to pay him through to 2043.
However, Soto’s deal does not include any deferred payments, meaning he will receive his salary over the full 15 years unless he opts out after five.
While comprehensive records for contracts in sports outside the U.S. are lacking, Soto’s deal is believed to outshine those in all other team sports.
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How much will Soto earn?
The baseball phenom is projected to earn $805 million (£630 million) if he decides to extend his contract after five years.
This would mean an annual salary of $51 million (£40 million) during the first five years, increasing to $55 million (£43 million) for the subsequent ten years.
With 162 games in a typical Major League Baseball season, Soto’s $805 million compensation equates to just over $331,000 (£259,000) per game over 15 years.
Baseball games do not have a set duration, usually consisting of nine innings, with recent seasons averaging approximately 2 hours and 36 minutes in length.
Based on these figures, Soto could be earning roughly $2,100 (£1,643) per minute during each game after 15 years.