Juan Soto will not leave New York. But he wasn’t a Yankee either. The 26-year-old is reportedly headed to the Mets on the biggest contract in professional sports history.
Soto agreed to a 15-year, $765 million deal, breaking Shohei Ohtani’s $700 million deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers this past offseason.
Since there’s no deferment like Ohtani’s, Soto is set to make $51 million per year. And that could increase to $55 million per season. It depends on what happens with his opt-out in the next five years.
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New York Yankees outfielder Juan Soto celebrates his solo home run in the third inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers during Game 2 of the World Series at the Dodgers. Stadium on 1 Oct. 26 September 2024. (Photo Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn)
But for a while everything was right in Queens after Steve Cohen defeated the Yankees in historic fashion. Yankees general manager Brian Cashman was asked about his and owner Hal Steinbrenner’s pursuit of Soto. This is a very competitive offer.
The Yankees reportedly offered Soto $760 million over 16 years, with no deferrals. The same is true for the Mets, and Cashman said at the MLB Winter Meetings on Monday that It is “above our comfort level” to do so. Per MLB.com–
What the Yankees Reportedly Offered Juan Soto before he signed with the Mets
“It’s not a deal that we regret,” Cashman said, adding his understanding that Soto may have been the one-and-done player all along after trading for him last offseason. “He affected us hard. I’m just sorry we missed out on the World Series.”
“There are a lot of different ways to figure it out,” Cashman said of adding a talent not named Soto to reach the World Series again in 2025.
Now, the question is what the Yankees have in store for “Plan B” or life without Soto.
MLB.com reports that the Yankees are “Host a virtual call” with top free agents Max Fried and Corbin Burnes Starting pitching is something World Series contenders are always looking to upgrade. A prime example is that the Dodgers have added Cy Young winner Blake Snell.
Even before news of Soto’s selection broke, the Yankees were expected to be involved in stadium upgrades. Especially at first base. Meanwhile, another outfield player is also on the card.
Juan Soto (Brad Penner-Imagn Photo/File)
Among the options for both outfielder and midfielder are Teoscar Hernandez, Cody Bellinger, Anthony Santander, Alex Bregman and former Met P. Thor Alonso
Cashman & Co. will need to move on quickly so they don’t miss out on other top talent. But the franchise and fan base Never thought about a world where Soto wasn’t part of the roster in 2025 and beyond.
He had a career year during his lone season in the Bronx, hitting a career-high 41 homers with 109 RBI and a .288 average and .419 on-base percentage ahead of AL MVP Aaron Judge in the lineup.
Soto’s efforts, which led to a plethora of “re-sign Soto!” The outcry from fans during the 2024 season played a key role in the team’s first World Series appearance since 2009. They were unable to defeat the Dodgers. But expect the Yankees to do everything in their power to bring him back because of how good the combination of Soto and Judge is in the lineup.
Brian Cashman, general manager of the New York Yankees (J. Conrad Williams Jr./Newsday RM via Getty Images/File)
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The Yankees tried. But Soto will explain why he chose his crosstown rival instead.
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