According to reports, the New York Mets have won Major League Baseball’s free agent quest by signing outfielder Juan Soto. Soto was the most anticipated name in the market this offseason. He met with multiple clubs, seeking a high-valued contract in both dollars and years. Soto has chosen cross boroughs to take his talents to Queens. Soto agreed to a 15-year, $765 million deal, per Jon Heyman of the New York Post. The amount is a record for professional sports.
Breaking: Juan Soto to the Mets. $765M. 15 years.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) December 9, 2024
Mets Sign Juan Soto to Record Contract
Soto was the focal point of the 2024 postseason and the offseason. His seasonal performance and postseason performance increased his stock, almost parallel to Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani.
The outfielder joined the New York Yankees in 2024 by trade. He occupied right field and the second spot of the lineup, hitting ahead of fellow superstar Aaron Judge. Soto delivered an All-Star season in the Bronx, slashing .288/.419/.569.
Soto played in 157 games out of 162. He saw 576 at-bats, recording 166 hits, 41 home runs, and 109 RBI. The outfielder walked more than he struck out, walking 129 times and striking out 119 times.
The slugger registered a league-leading 128 runs scored along with 328 total bases. Defensively, Soto had a .994 fielding percentage with 302 put-outs in 314 attempts.
Soto’s postseason was important to the Yankees’ path to the World Series. He saw 49 at-bats with 16 hits, four home runs, and nine RBIs. He struck out only nine times while walking 14 times, scoring 12 times with 31 total bases.
Soto slashed .327/.469/.633 in October. This season, Soto ranked first in the league in runs scored, third in the league in home runs, ninth in the league in batting average, second in the league in on-base percentage, and third in the league in slugging percentage.
After forming a one-two punch with Judge in 2024, Soto and Francisco Lindor will be a terrifying ordeal for opposing pitchers for years to come with the Mets.
Photo Credit: © Brad Penner-Imagn Images
