In his first spring training at-bat with the New York Mets, Soto crushed a 426-foot opposite field home run off the Houston Astros’ Colton Gordon to give the Mets a 1-0 lead in the first inning Saturday.
Soto signed the most lucrative contract in professional sports history this offseason, a 15-year, $765 million deal with the Mets.
In signing Soto, the Mets hoped to propel the team to the World Series after making a surprise run to the NLCS last season, where they lost to the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The addition of Soto had fans wondering if the team would be able to retain first baseman Pete Alonso, also a free agent this offseason.
Alonso later re-signed with the Mets, giving Soto some important protection in the lineup.
Soto, a four-time All-Star, had the best season of his career with the Yankees last season. He hit .288 with a career-best 41 home runs and 109 RBIs.
New York Mets’ third baseman Brett Baty gave up his No. 22 to Juan Soto, and his new teammate rewarded him handsomely for it.
Soto, fresh off signing the largest contract in the history of professional sports, bought Baty a car as a token of gratitude for giving up No. 22 on Thursday.
"I really appreciate the number. This is the first one I ever wear. I wanted to give you something nice," Soto said.
"Well, this is definitely really nice," Baty responded.
Soto gave him an SUV, and left a bow on the hood for his gift for Baty. The outfielder donned the No. 22 in Mets colors during the exchange.
"Bro, this is crazy," Baty said after getting into the driver's seat for the first time.
Soto signed a record-breaking 15-year, $765 million contract with the Mets this offseason. If Soto opts out after the fifth year of his contract, the Mets can void it by making the total value of the contract $805 million.
Soto has worn No. 22 his whole career with the Washington Nationals, San Diego Padres, and New York Yankees.
Soto is a big addition to a Mets team that made a surprise run to the NLCS last season before falling to the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The Mets retained first baseman Pete Alonso in free agency, giving Soto some important protection in the lineup.
Unfortunately for Baty, Alonso being re-signed might hurt his chances of making the opening day roster.
If Alonso departed, third baseman Mark Vientos could have taken over at first base, leaving third base open for Baty.
With the return of Alonso, Vientos is penciled in at third base after a strong second half and playoff run, as he slugged 27 home runs in 111 regular season games last season.
Baty played in 50 games last season and struggled, hitting .229 with four home runs.
Regardless of whether Baty makes the opening day roster, he will at least walk out of spring training with a brand-new car.
New York Yankees superstar Aaron Judge thinks the Yankees have a better chance of winning the World Series than their crosstown rivals, the New York Mets.
Judge, 32, was asked about his former teammate, Juan Soto, and Soto’s apparent conclusion that he had a better chance to win with the Mets than the Yankees.
"That's his opinion. He can say what he wants. I definitely disagree with him. I wasn't too surprised by it, I think that's where he wanted to be," Judge said to reporters on Monday during a press conference.
Soto signed a record-breaking 15-year, $765 million contract with the Mets this offseason. If Soto opts out after the fifth year of his contract, the Mets can void it by making the total value of the contract $805 million.
"The Mets are a great organization and what they have done in the past couple of year showing the ability to keep winning, to keep growing a team, to try and grow a dynasty, is one of the most important things," Soto said when asked why he chose to sign with the Mets in free agency.
Soto’s deal is the richest contract in the history of professional sports, and Judge said Monday he is happy for his former teammate.
"I think that’s where is best for him and his family. He got a pretty nice deal over there, you can’t say no that. But I’m happy for him, he got a good deal. He’s going to be in a great spot. It’s going to be great having him in town. We are going to be battling back and forth for quite a few years. I’m definitely happy for him," Judge said.
Judge and Soto were the big leagues' best duo last season.
Judge won the American League MVP after clubbing a league high 58 home runs and driving in the most runs in baseball (144) while maintaining a sparkling .322 batting average.
Soto finished third in the AL MVP race, as he had the best season of his career while hitting in front of Judge.
Soto hit a career high 41 home runs and hit .288, while getting on base at a .419 clip.
Judge knows it is impossible to replace Soto, but he likes what the Yankees have done to make up for his loss.
"Soto is one-of-a-kind man, he’s a special player. Excited for him and his new chapter with the Mets, but we added a lot of new pieces here, starting with (Cody) Bellinger and (Paul) Goldschmidt. Two guys that are former MVP’s, guys that are still wanting to improve, still want to get better," Judge said.
"They are going to add such a different dynamic to this team. It really lengthens our whole lineup when you have those guys batting in the middle of your order a lot of good things are going to happen. You can't replace a guy like Juan Soto, but you bring in guys like this that are All Star, MVP caliber players."
The Yankees acquired Bellinger in a trade with the Chicago Cubs and signed Goldschmidt to a one-year deal in free agency.
Bellinger won the 2019 NL MVP with the Los Angeles Dodgers and has spent the last two seasons with the Cubs.
Bellinger hit .266 and hit 18 home runs with the Cubs last season, and he plays a strong centerfield.
Goldschmidt won the NL MVP in 2022 but struggled last season as he got off a slow start before bouncing back. He hit .245 with 22 home runs in 154 games last season.
Those two will be tasked with replacing the hole Soto left in the Yankees lineup, as they try to make it back to the World Series after losing to the Dodgers in five games.
Soto will be relied upon to anchor the Mets lineup alongside Francisco Lindor, as the Mets have World Series aspirations after a surprise run to the NLCS last season.
And Shohei Ohtani decided to stay in Los Angeles and sign with the Dodgers before the 2024 campaign.
Japanese stars have joined other teams in recent years, but Yamamoto and Sasaki are undoubtedly the top pitching prospects other than Ohtani since Masahiro Tanaka arrived in 2014 with the Yankees.
Ahead of the 2023 season, Kodai landed a five-year, $90 million contract with the New York Mets, and he's slated to be at the top of their rotation this season after missing the majority of last season.
As he reported to spring training Tuesday, Senga was asked how the Mets could land more Japanese stars, and he was brutally honest.
"Of course, I would love to have some more on the Mets, but the climate's nice there, and I think that definitely plays a part," Senga said.
Mets owner Steve Cohen has teased a roof before, once noting it would cost roughly $800 million to build. But, last year, he said that "ship has sailed" because it's "too expensive."
There figure to be more Japanese stars arriving in the U.S. soon. Lefty slugger Munetaka Murakami, who hit 56 homers in 2022 and has a .938 career OPS overseas, is expected to join the major leagues next year.
It should also be noted that the Blue Jays have a roof, so the weather clearly wasn't everything for Sasaki.
The New York Mets are bringing back first baseman Pete Alonso on a two-year, $54 million deal, according to multiple reports.
The deal reportedly comes with an opt-out after 2025. The deal also reportedly comes with a $10 million signing bonus and a $20 million salary for 2025, with a $24 million player option for 2026.
Alonso was the team’s second-round pick out of the Florida Gators’ program in 2016, and he’s spent his first six seasons hitting home runs (226), including a rookie record 53 that aided his Rookie of the Year resume in 2019. He's also made four All-Star teams, including each of the last three, and has a career .854 OPS.
Alonso's uncertain return to the Mets was one of the most-discussed storylines of the MLB offseason. Team owner Steve Cohen expressed skepticism the team would re-sign the star sluggers during an appearance at the Mets’ Amazin’ Day in late January.
There, Cohen said the negotiations with Alonso were going "worse" than they had with the team's offseason big offseason signing, Juan Soto.
"We’ve made a significant offer to Pete, and, you know, what David said is correct. He’s entitled to go out and explore his market," Cohen said. "That’s what he’s doing. Personally, this has been an exhausting conversation and negotiation. I mean, Soto was tough. This is worse."
Still, Cohen never ruled out Alonso's return.
"I will never say no. There’s always the possibility. But the reality is we’re moving forward, and we continue to bring in players. As we continue to bring in players, the reality is it becomes harder to fit Pete into what is a very expensive group of players that we already have. That’s where we are," Cohen said.
"I’m being brutally honest. I don’t like the negotiations, I don’t like what’s been presented to us, and maybe that changes. Certainly, I’ll always stay flexible. If it stays this way, I think we’re going to have to get used to the fact that we may have to go forward with the existing players that we have."
Now, Alonso is back in Queens and will be paired with Soto for at least one season.
Here’s something New York Mets fans might not have seen coming this offseason: Pete Alonso's contract talks are "worse" than Juan Soto’s, according to owner Steven Cohen.
During an appearance at the Mets’ Amazin’ Day Saturday afternoon at Citi Field, Cohen was on a panel with his general manager, David Stearns, and manager Carlos Mendoza, while legendary broadcaster Gary Cohen (no relation) moderated the group.
Before questions could be asked, though, the Mets’ faithful in the crowd burst into a "We want Pete!" chant, referring to Alonso, the free agent first baseman who has been a Met his entire career.
"Hold that for the end, OK?" Cohen told the crowd, smiling.
The Mets and Alonso have had negotiations, but have not reached a deal after they signed Soto to his $765 million deal. New York has landed other players in free agency, but Alonso remains one of the top players on the market.
Alonso was the team’s second-round pick out of the Florida Gators’ program in 2016, and he’s spent his first six seasons hitting home runs (226), including a rookie record 53 that aided his Rookie of the Year resume in 2019. He's also made four All-Star teams, including each of the last three, and has a career .854 OPS.
As a fan favorite, it’s easy to see why Mets fans are chanting for their first baseman to be back for a hopeful World Series run in 2025 with Soto added to a roster that also includes Francisco Lindor, Brandon Nimmo and Mark Vientos.
But Cohen, as he has been many times in the past, was transparent with the fan base about what’s been going on in negotiations with Alonso's agent, Scott Boras, who also represents Soto.
"We’ve made a significant offer to Pete, and, you know, what David said is correct. He’s entitled to go out and explore his market," Cohen said. "That’s what he’s doing. Personally, this has been an exhausting conversation and negotiation. I mean, Soto was tough. This is worse."
The Soto sweepstakes were a roller coaster, and it seemed like he was going to stay with the New York Yankees until Cohen came swooping in at the eleventh hour with an offer of a lifetime, crushing Shohei Ohtani’s record contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
So, with a record-breaking deal done, how could Alonso’s negotiations possibly be worse?
"I don’t like the structures that are being presented back to us," Cohen explained. "I think it’s highly asymmetric against us, and I feel strongly about it. I will never say no. There’s always the possibility. But the reality is we’re moving forward, and we continue to bring in players. As we continue to bring in players, the reality is it becomes harder to fit Pete into what is a very expensive group of players that we already have. That’s where we are.
"I’m being brutally honest. I don’t like the negotiations, I don’t like what’s been presented to us, and maybe that changes. Certainly, I’ll always stay flexible. If it stays this way, I think we’re going to have to get used to the fact that we may have to go forward with the existing players that we have."
Mets fans appreciated the honesty from their owner, giving him a round of applause at the end.
Stearns added, "We all love Pete. And we've said that many times. I think as we've gone through this process, we've continued to express that."
SNY reported this week the Mets have a $68-70 million offer in "present day money" on the table. Alonso turned down a deal for more than $70 million when taking deferred money into account.
The Toronto Blue Jays have also been linked to Alonso, but no deal appears imminent.
Mets legend David Wright had some advice for free agent first baseman Pete Alonso, who has spent his entire career with the Mets.
"It’s a different feeling when you’re drafted, developed and playing for the team that gave you your first opportunity," Wright said at a press conference Wednesday,
"There’s a little more — maybe a lot more — pride when you put that jersey on every night. And I hope he remembers that and doesn’t lose sight of that. With that being said, I’ve never, ever faulted a player for maximizing his earning potential."
Since Alonso’s debut, only New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge has hit more home runs (232) than Alonso (226).
The star first baseman has also been durable in his career, including playing every game last season.
Alonso hit .240 while clubbing 34 home runs with 88 RBIs for the Mets last season, and he hit .273 with four home runs in 13 playoff games.
The first baseman market has dwindled after a lot of teams made moves to fill that spot.
The Yankees signed Paul Goldschmidt, the Houston Astros signed Christian Walker, the Washington Nationals traded for Nathaniel Lowe, the Arizona Diamondbacks traded for Josh Naylor and the Cleveland Guardians signed Carlos Santana.
Should Alonso and the Mets reunite, the first baseman is just 26 home runs shy of passing Darryl Strawberry and becoming the franchise’s career leader in home runs.
Lenny Randle, a controversial former infielder who played 12 years in the majors with five teams, has died, the Seattle Mariners announced on Monday. He was 75.
Randle played the final two years of his career with the Mariners. He started his career with the Washington Senators, who later became the Texas Rangers, in 1971. He also played for the New York Mets, New York Yankees and Chicago Cubs.
"We are saddened by the passing of former Mariner Lenny Randle. Our thoughts are with his family, friends and loved ones," the Mariners said in a post on X.
The Baseball Hall of Fame also remembered Randle in a tribute on social media.
Randle had a .257 lifetime batting average with 322 RBI. He had his best season in 1974, when he had a .302 batting average with 17 doubles and four triples. He earned American League MVP votes that season.
He was known for a handful of controversial issues during the course of his career.
Randle ignited a brawl while he was with the Rangers in 1974. Randle crashed into Cleveland Indians pitcher Milt Wilcox on a bunt after a ball was thrown behind him. Indians players then tackled Randle and ignited a bench-clearing brawl. The incident was later said to be the catalyst for the 10 Cent Beer Night riot less than a week later at Cleveland Stadium.
He then got into a spring training fight with then-Rangers manager Frank Lucchesi over allegations that Lucchesi called Randle a "punk." Randle was charged with assault over the incident and pleaded no contest. He was also sued by Lucchesi.
Because of the incident, Randle was traded to the Mets.
In 1981, Randle was playing third base for the Mariners. Kansas City Royals outfielder Amos Otis hit a trickling ball down the third-base line. Randle got on his hands and knees to try to blow the ball foul.
"I’m going, OK, eat it, kick it, yell at it! So, I yelled at it," Randle recalled to MLB Network. "’Go foul, go foul, go foul.’"
The ball went foul, but Otis was awarded first base after a protest.
Randle played in Italy and later in a senior league.
Juan Soto was all smiles as he donned his newest pinstripes in New York.
The newest New York Mets superstar was introduced to the media and spoke about his excitement for the team's future, World Series aspirations and more.
But while Mets fans are over the moon with their $765 million man, New York Yankees fans remain bitter, and seeing Soto in his No. 22 Mets jersey likely added fuel to that fire.
During a media scrum, Soto was asked if he had a message for Yankees fans who hoped he would return on a similar deal the Mets gave him.
"I want to say thank you to them," Soto said, via SNY. "They really showed me all the love and everything they had last year. They were there day in, day out. They really have a spot in my heart at the end of the day. Tough that we couldn’t get it together and try to be back and stuff like that. But definitely I’ll always appreciate what they did for me in 2024."
It may not be an answer Yankees fans want, but Soto at least acknowledges what they did for him in 2024.
Fans showered the right fielder with "Re-sign Soto!" chants every game, fake blank checks were brought into the stadium and Soto had a career year statistically, helping the Yankees return to the World Series.
The love Yankees fans had for Soto was palpable, and they wanted him to remain with a long-term deal.
But the Mets outbid the Yankees, who reportedly had a 16-year deal worth $760 million on the table. Soto chose to go across town to Queens.
Soto revealed at his news conference he hadn't spoken to a single Yankees teammate since the World Series ended in a crushing defeat to the Los Angeles Dodgers.
"I think we have the best chance to win here," he added when asked about his choice of the Mets over the Yankees.
The Mets, always considered a "little brother" to the Yankees, have a new identity with owner Steve Cohen.
The New York Mets introduced their new superstar, Juan Soto, Thursday after outbidding the New York Yankees for his services.
During his introductory press conference, a reporter asked if Soto had talked to his former Yankees teammates throughout the free agency process.
"I haven’t talked to any of those guys. We talked to them through (the) playoffs, end of the playoffs. But, after that, I made this process. I haven’t talked to any of those guys," Soto said.
In his press conference after winning the AL MVP, Aaron Judge said he hadn’t spoken to Juan Soto since the end of the World Series.
"The best thing is to really give those guys space," Judge said, according to Fox Sports. "I talked to him all season, and he knows how we feel about him. And I think the most important thing is now let him do his thing with his family, pray about it, talk with people and come to the right decision for him and his family."
The bidding for the 26-year-old came down to the crosstown rivals, and the Mets won the prize of free agency.
The Mets gave Soto the most lucrative deal in professional sports history, a 15-year, $765 million contract that includes escalators that can take it over $800 million.
There is a player opt-out after the fifth season that the Mets can void by paying Soto $55 million per season for the remainder of the contract should Soto choose to opt out.
The jump to $55 million annually would be a $4 million raise from the $51 million Soto will receive annually for the first five years of the deal.
In addition to becoming the highest-paid player in baseball history, Soto will also receive a ballpark luxury suite for his family, four premium seats for home games and security for him and his family, according to the New York Post.
Last season, Soto finished third place in the AL MVP voting after having a career-best year hitting in front of Judge.
The four-time All-Star hit .288 with 41 home runs and 129 walks, second only to Judge.
During the Yankees' run to the World Series, his performances were crucial in the ALDS and ALCS, which was highlighted by his game-sealing, go-ahead extra-inning home run against the Cleveland Guardians.
Now Soto will take his talents crosstown and anchor the top of the Mets' lineup alongside Francisco Lindor and Mark Vientos.
There had been reports earlier this week that the Yankees "wouldn't budge" on giving Soto a suite at Yankee Stadium, and Yankees general manager Brian Cashman seemed to all but confirm that. But the Mets gave a suite to Soto.
The New York Post says that, along with the suite, Soto will also have four premium seats for home games and security for him and his family both at home and on the road.
His uniform number was another issue.
Since his MLB debut in 2018, Soto has worn No. 22 with the Nationals, Padres and Yankees. He will do the same with the Mets, and it is a part of his contract, the Post notes.
Brett Baty had worn the number with the Mets since 2022. It is common for stars who join new teams to give a hefty gift to whomever was wearing a preferred number. It's unknown if Soto is giving Baty anything.
Either way, Baty doesn't have a choice in the matter.
The Yankees said their reported 16-year, $760 million offer was "above and beyond our comfort level." Cashman also noted that "some high-end players that make a lot of money for us, if they want suites, they buy them."
New York Yankees fans are still reeling over Juan Soto's decision to sign with the New York Mets, and while money talks, one report has perhaps an additional reason why he wanted Queens over the Bronx.
It was expected that Mets owner Steve Cohen would do anything possible to get Soto to wear blue and orange next season, and it wasn't just about the money, as the New York Post reported.
According to The Post's Jon Heyman, Cohen didn't think twice when it came to giving a suite to Soto's family to help sweeten the $765 million deal he agreed to.
Heyman adds the Yankees, though, "wouldn't budge on the suite," noting the team felt they couldn't do so when Aaron Judge and Derek Jeter – the past two Yankees captains – paid for their family's suite. There would've been a discount, but not a freebie like Cohen offered.
Of course, the main piece of this was Soto getting a historic contract that smashed Shohei Ohtani's $700 million deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
There are no deferments, so he's scheduled to receive $51 million per season. He gets a $75 million signing bonus, whereas the Yankees didn't have one, and there are escalators in the contract that could take the deal to $805 million.
Soto also has a fifth-year opt-out clause, when he will be 30 years old.
The Yankees' deal was comparable, though, as they reportedly offered $760 million over 16 years, which GM Brian Cashman admitted was "above and beyond our comfort level" when speaking to reporters at the MLB Winter Meetings on Monday.
And even Cohen understood his best offer might not have beaten the Yankees, considering Soto already had a year with the team and a World Series appearance to boot.
"I was being logical," Cohen told The Post about his negotiations with Soto and super agent Scott Boras. "When you have [Aaron] Judge, it’s tough to beat that. Juan was great. But what they had… I didn’t know how to solve that."
But Cohen, GM David Stearns and the rest of the organization found a way, ultimately checking the boxes Soto wanted for his long-term future in MLB.
Meanwhile, the Yankees are pivoting to Plan B, which appears to be going after top names in the starting pitching market, including Max Fried and Corbin Burnes.
How the Yankees respond to life without Soto remains to be seen, but the fallout from going crosstown still weighs heavy on the minds of fans.
Juan Soto isn't leaving New York, but he isn't a Yankee either, as reports say the 26-year-old slugger is heading to the Mets on the biggest contract in professional sports history.
Soto agreed to a 15-year, $765 million deal that smashes Shohei Ohtani's $700 million deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers this past offseason.
With no deferrals like Ohtani's, Soto is set to make $51 million per year, and it could move to $55 million per season depending on what happens with his opt-out in five years.
But while all is right in Queens after Steve Cohen outbid the Yankees in historic fashion, Yankees general manager Brian Cashman was asked about his and owner Hal Steinbrenner’s pursuit of Soto, which was a very competitive offer.
The Yankees reportedly offered Soto $760 million over 16 years with no deferments, just like the Mets. And Cashman said at the MLB Winter Meetings on Monday that it was "above and beyond our comfort level" to do so, per MLB.com.
"It’s not a deal we regret," Cashman said, adding his understanding that Soto could’ve always been a one-and-done player after trading for him last offseason. "He impacted us in a heavy way. I’m just sorry we fell short in the World Series."
"There's a lot of different ways to figure this out," Cashman said about adding talent not named Soto to reach the World Series again in 2025.
Now, the question is what the Yankees have in store for their "Plan B," or life without Soto.
MLB.com reported the Yankees were "hosting virtual calls" with top free-agent starters Max Fried and Corbin Burnes. Starting pitching is always something World Series contenders look to upgrade, a prime example being the Dodgers already adding Cy Young winner Blake Snell.
Even before news of Soto’s choice, the Yankees were expected to be involved in infield upgrades, especially at first base, while another outfielder was also in the cards.
Among the options for both infield and outfielder are Teoscar Hernandez, Cody Bellinger, Anthony Santander, Alex Bregman and former Met Pete Alonso.
Cashman & Co. will need to move on quickly so they don’t miss out on the other top talent, but the franchise and its fan base never wanted to think about a world where Soto wasn’t a part of the 2025 roster and beyond.
He had a career year in his lone season in the Bronx, hitting a career-high 41 homers with 109 RBI and a .288 average and .419 on-base percentage in front of AL MVP Aaron Judge in the lineup.
Soto’s efforts, which led to a plethora of "Re-sign Soto!" chants from fans during the 2024 season, played a large part in the team’s first World Series appearance since 2009. They weren’t able to beat the Dodgers, but it was expected the Yankees would do everything in their power to bring him back because of how lethal the combination of Soto and Judge were in the lineup.
The Yankees tried, but Soto will explain why he chose their crosstown rival instead.
The New York Yankees swung for the fences but came up short in the sweepstakes for prized MLB free agent Juan Soto.
Soto agreed to a 15-year, $765 million deal with the New York Mets, according to multiple reports. The 26-year-old phenom will go from the Bronx to Queens in one of the biggest and shrewdest moves the Mets have made in several years.
The Yankees offered Soto $760 million over 16 years, according to multiple reports. The deal would have lowered his average annual value if he decided to stick around in pinstripes.
Soto ultimately turned down the Yankees, Los Angeles Dodgers, Boston Red Sox and Toronto Blue Jays to sign the richest contract in professional sports, the New York Post reported.
The MLB world also weighed in on the Yankees apparently missing out on the star player.
The Yankees acquired Soto in a blockbuster trade with the San Diego Padres last winter for Jhony Brito, Kyle Higashioka, Michael King, Drew Thorpe and Randy Vasquez. He was paired with Aaron Judge on a star-studded roster that also featured Giancarlo Stanton.
He hit .288 with a .989 OPS with a career-high 41 home runs. He led the American League with 128 runs scored and was an All-Star for the fourth time in his young career.
New York fell just short in its World Series hopes – losing in five games to the Dodgers.
With the Mets, he will join a lineup that features another perennial MVP candidate, Francisco Lindor.
Juan Soto is staying in New York, but he won't be with the Yankees.
Instead, the New York Mets, long believed to be a frontrunner to land the 26-year-old superstar, have landed him on an MLB-record $765 million contract over 15 years, according to multiple reports.
In fact, that astronomical number gives Soto the largest contract in professional sports history.
Last offseason, it was Shohei Ohtani's $700 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers that broke those records.
While the Dodgers, Boston Red Sox and Toronto Blue Jays were in play as well, it was believed by many to be a bidding war between the Mets and New York Yankees – the team who traded for Soto before the 2024 MLB season, which he helped reach the World Series.
The Yankees offered Soto $760 million over 16 years, according to the New York Post. It's unclear if there were deferments similar to Ohtani's contract in the Yankees' offer, but the Mets reportedly don't have any.
Mets owner Steve Cohen shelled out $51 million per season with no deferments over those 15 years, according to multiple reports. ESPN reported there were "escalators that can reach above $800 million.
However, there is reportedly an opt-out clause for Soto after five years.
And so ends the free agency saga of one of the best players in the sport, as Soto brings his lethal hitting skills crosstown to a team that reached the NLCS in Cinderella story fashion after finishing red-hot.
Soto will fit in nicely with All-Star shortstop Francisco Lindor as well as budding young talent, including Mark Vientos and Francisco Alvarez, making the Mets a World Series contender now and in the future.
Soto had the best year of his career in 2024 during his one and only season with the Yankees. The four-time All-Star hit .288 with 41 home runs while having 129 walks, second only former teammate and 2024 AL MVP Aaron Judge.
During the Yankees' run to the World Series, his performances were crucial in the ALDS and ALCS, which was highlighted by his game-sealing, go-ahead extra-inning home run against the Cleveland Guardians.
Soto hit .327 with a .469 on-base percentage with four homers in the postseason, and the Mets are hoping to give him another October where he can do the same.
As the Mets celebrate landing the generational talent, those teams hoping it would've been them he chose will start searching elsewhere to bolster rosters for the 2025 campaign.
Those aforementioned teams should move on to top talent including Max Fried, Corbin Burnes, Alex Bregman and many more on the free agent list.
Juan Soto’s free agency has driven national headlines this MLB offseason, and considering both New York teams are in the thick of negotiations, the "Saturday Night Live" crew had some fun with it.
A dig thrown the way of the New York Mets came as a result.
Dana Carvey was once again in his role as "Church Lady," who had a "Church Chat" with Soto, played by Marcello Hernandez.
Playing Soto, Hernandez wore a question mark on his white T-shirt while also sporting a Celsius hat, an ode to the teased announcement the 26-year-old superstar had last month as baseball fans were clamoring for his free agent decision.
During their conversation, the New York Yankees were the team that "Soto" hoped would "make me the best offer."
However, Church Lady’s next comment ultimately led to a jab at the Mets.
"Well, as a Christian, I have to ask you: Why not spend your time and money helping the needy and less fortunate?" Church Lady asked.
"You’re right," the fake Soto replied. "Maybe, I’ll sign with the Mets."
With Soto reportedly getting offers with $700 million on the table, Church Lady said to the fake Soto that "money is the root of all evil."
"Well, if that’s true, then I’m going to become the most evil baseball player in the world," the fake Soto said, which led to raucous laughter from the crowd.
As of Saturday night, the New York Post reports both the Yankees and Mets upping their offers to Soto into the "$710-730 million range," which would top what the Los Angeles Dodgers gave Shohei Ohtani this past offseason.
Ohtani’s record contract was worth $700 million with $680 million in deferrals, changing the entire landscape of how MLB stars could be signed moving forward.
But it isn’t just the Yankees and Mets interested in Soto for next season and beyond.
The Dodgers, who already made a splash after their World Series victory over the Yankees by adding Blake Snell to the starting rotation, are reportedly interested. The Boston Red Sox and Toronto Blue Jays, divisional foes of the Yankees, remain in the mix as well.
Steve Cohen bought his childhood team, the New York Mets, in 2020.
Jim McIsaac/Getty Images
In a new podcast, billionaire Point72 founder Steve Cohen talks about the intangible values good investors have.
Cohen, the owner of the MLB's New York Mets, spoke about how the level of discipline is similar to professional athletes.
Investing at Point72 requires analysts to be in a "constant learning," he said.
The employees of billionaire Steve Cohen's two companies compete in different arenas.
The New York Mets, the Major League Baseball team Cohen has owned since 2020, play their games in front of tens of thousands of fans in Queens and opposing teams' stadiums. Meanwhile, Cohen's hundreds of portfolio managers and analysts at his $35 billion hedge fund Point72 are trying to beat the market and peers at firms like Citadel, Millennium, and more every day in offices around the world.
Cohen just handed out the largest contract in baseball, signing phenom Juan Soto to a 15-year contract that could pay him up to $800 million — but he expects the mindsets of the baseball players and traders on his payroll to be similar.
No matter the situation, there are key intangibles that an individual must have, Cohen said on a Point72 podcast with the firm's co-CIO Harry Schwefel. Good investors need to be opportunistic, vulnerable, passionate, and curious, but most importantly, like great athletes, they need to be disciplined.
"The talent in this industry is exceptional," said Cohen, wearing a gray New York Mets pullover, speaking about investment management.
To outperform, it's about "doing it day in, day out, no matter how it feels, how you feel." He spoke about how he hated weekends early on in his career because he wanted to trade and compete, comparing it to baseball players who, despite having a season that spans at least six months, can't wait for Spring Training.
Because of the discipline required by high-level sports, former college athletes have become a major recruiting ground for finance firms. A 2023 Harvard Business School study found Ivy League athletes "outperform their non-athlete counterparts in the labor market."
"Athletes attain higher terminal wages and earn cumulatively more than non-athletes over the course of their careers," the study found. Athletes also attain more senior positions in the organizations they join.
Point72 is a good example: Schwefel played for Harvard's hockey team.
In the conversation between the two, Cohen also revealed the questions he asks of any potential hire. He wants to understand "what makes them tick" and also how flexible they are.
"Do they want to be right or do they want to make money?" Cohen said. People who are right are "rolled over by the markets" all the time, he said, so a good investor has to be "constantly redefining who you are."
It's why at Point72, Cohen said, "constant learning" is mandatory for any employee. Once you find the area you're passionate about, he said, you have to be fully in it, improving every day, just like an MLB player or a pro golfer.
"This is pattern recognition and knowing what you're good at," he said about investing.
Two-time MLB All-Star pitcher Luis Severino and the Athletics have reached an agreement on a three-year contract, according to multiple reports.
The deal is reportedly worth $67 million, which would represent the most lucrative contract in the history of the typically budget-minded franchise.
The deal exceeds the $66 million contract third baseman Eric Chavez signed for 2005-10.
Severino had a strong 2024 campaign with the New York Mets, starting 31 games and posting a 3.91 ERA. He also struck out 161 batters in what became his first full MLB season since 2018. Severino has battled a number of injuries over the past five years.
It didn't take long for the veteran right-hander to find success at the MLB level. He recorded 230 strikeouts and was named to the All-Star team in 2017, his first full season in a big league rotation.
Severino, who turns 31 Feb. 20, was a free agent for the second straight offseason after going 11-7 in his only season with the Mets. He left the Yankees last offseason to sign a one-year deal with the Mets guaranteeing $13 million, and he earned an additional $2 million in performance bonuses.
Severino is 65-44 with a 3.81 ERA in 156 starts and 16 relief appearances for the Yankees and Mets.
Severino turned down a $21.05 million qualifying offer from the Mets, who will receive an extra pick after the fourth round of next July’s amateur draft. The A's will forfeit their third-highest selection.
Those contracts were made late last week, according to the report. The next step in the process will be negotiations between the teams and Soto’s agent, Scott Boras.
Soto, 26, is reportedly believed to be seeking a 15-year contract that is worth more than Shohei Ohtani’s $700 million deal. Ohtani’s deal is 10 years, and he deferred the majority of his contract, whereas Soto apparently is not interested in deferring money.
The four-time All Star is coming off the best season of his already remarkable career, batting .288 while slugging a career-high 41 home runs, finishing third in AL MVP voting while batting in front of the MVP in Aaron Judge.
During the Yankees' run to the World Series, Soto was even better, hitting .327 while having an on base percentage of .469 while hitting four home runs.
The Blue Jays tried to trade for Soto last offseason but could not get a deal done with the San Diego Padres. The Blue Jays also tried to sign Ohtani but fell short in their pursuit of adding a superstar.
Some are questioning whether the Dodgers can afford to sign Soto after handing out over $1 billion dollars of total money in contracts last offseason, but with Ohtani deferring a lot of his contract, they have enough money to at least make an offer.
The Red Sox met with Soto for three hours in California in their hopes of luring the five-time Silver Slugger away from their bitter rival, according to MLB.com.
The Mets have the richest owner in the sport in Steve Cohen and may need every penny they can muster to steer Soto away from the Bronx and over to Queens, where he and star shortstop Francisco Lindor would form a dynamic duo atop the lineup.
Soto met with the Yankees last Monday, when the team sent owner Hal Steinbrenner, team president Randy Levine, general manager Brian Cashman, special assistant to the general manager Omar Minaya and manager Aaron Boone to California, according to NJ.com.
Soto posted a video on Instagram on Tuesday with the caption "The announcement you’ve been waiting for (eyes emoji)," teasing fans about his free agency, but instead announced a brand deal with Celsius.
"What, you were expecting a different announcement?" Soto said with a smile at the end of the video.
Soto is expected to sign with a team during MLB’s winter meetings, which take place Dec. 9-12.
