December 9th 2024.
In a historic move, Juan Soto and the New York Mets have reached an agreement on a groundbreaking $765 million, 15-year contract. This news comes from a source who spoke to The Associated Press on Sunday night. The person, who wishes to remain anonymous, revealed that the deal is still pending a successful physical and has yet to be officially announced.
This contract marks the 12th in Major League Baseball to exceed $325 million in value. The figures, obtained from various player and management sources, include all guaranteed income but do not factor in potential incentive bonuses. It's worth noting that there is no distinction for deferred money.
The specifics of Soto's deal easily surpass the previous record set by Shohei Ohtani's $700 million agreement the previous winter. This is believed to be the largest contract in sports history and does not include any deferred payments. Soto, who is only 26 years old, turned down a $440 million, 15-year offer from the Washington Nationals in 2022. He was later traded to the San Diego Padres before ultimately ending up with the New York Yankees. Soto's decision to test free agency at such a young age has proven to be a wise one, as he is now the most accomplished free agent at his age since Alex Rodriguez signed a record-breaking $252 million, 10-year contract with the Texas Rangers at the age of 25.
Shohei Ohtani, who signed a $700 million, 10-year contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2024, has also made history with his deal. However, due to the inclusion of $680 million in deferred money that will be paid out from 2034-2043, the value of Ohtani's contract varies depending on the method used to calculate it. For the luxury tax, it is discounted at 4.33% and listed at approximately $46.08 million per year. The players' association discounts it at 5% and values it at around $43.7 million. And for MLB regular payrolls, it is discounted at 10% and listed at approximately $28.2 million.
In his first year with the Dodgers, Ohtani has already made an impact by winning his first World Series title and third MVP award. He led the National League with a .310 batting average, 54 home runs, 130 RBIs, and a 1.036 OPS. Ohtani's impressive performance also earned him the title of the first 50-50 player, stealing 59 bases. After recovering from elbow surgery, Ohtani is expected to return to pitching in 2025.
Mike Trout, who signed a $426.5 million, 12-year contract with the Los Angeles Angels in 2019, has had a rough few years due to injuries. Despite winning his third AL MVP award in the first year of his contract, Trout has only played in 266 games over the last four seasons due to various injuries. However, he has still managed to maintain a .281 batting average, 138 home runs, 306 RBIs, and a .995 OPS in his six seasons with the Angels.
Mookie Betts, who signed a $365 million, 12-year contract with the Dodgers in 2021, has proven to be a valuable addition to the team. In his first four years with the team, Betts has helped them win two World Series titles and has been named an All-Star eight times. He has a .283 batting average, 116 home runs, 322 RBIs, 52 stolen bases, and an .899 OPS during his time with the Dodgers.
After becoming a free agent, Aaron Judge signed a $360 million, nine-year contract with the New York Yankees. He was also appointed captain of the team. In the first two years of his contract, Judge has earned two All-Star selections and has maintained a .300 batting average, 95 home runs, 219 RBIs, 221 walks, and a 1.104 OPS. His contributions have helped the Yankees reach the World Series in 2024, their first appearance since 2009.
Manny Machado, who signed a $350 million, 14-year contract with the San Diego Padres in 2023, has been a consistent performer for the team. He has maintained a .275 batting average, 167 home runs, and 536 RBIs in his six seasons with the team. He has also earned two All-Star selections, bringing his career total to six. In the first two years of his new contract, Machado has a .267 batting average, 59 home runs, and 196 RBIs.
Acquired by the Mets in 2021, Francisco Lindor agreed to a $341 million, 10-year contract that will start in 2022. A four-time All-Star with the Cleveland Indians, Lindor is yet to be selected for another All-Star Game with the Mets. However, he did finish as the runner-up for NL MVP to Ohtani in 2024. Lindor has a .259 batting average, 110 home runs, 359 RBIs, and 86 stolen bases with the Mets, including a .266 batting average, 90 home runs, 296 RBIs, and 76 steals under his multi-year deal.
At the young age of 22, Fernando Tatis Jr. signed a record-breaking $340 million, 14-year contract with the Padres. However, his first year under the contract was marred by injuries and a suspension for a positive test for a performance-enhancing substance. Despite these setbacks, Tatis has maintained a .271 batting average, 88 home runs, 224 RBIs, 65 stolen bases, and an .855 OPS since signing the contract.
Bryce Harper, who signed a $330 million, 13-year contract with the Philadelphia Phillies in 2019, has had a successful few years with the team. In 2021, he won his second NL MVP award and has been named an All-Star eight times. He has a .285 batting average, 152 home runs, 455 RBIs, and a .924 OPS in his six years with the Phillies. However, his 2023 season was delayed due to Tommy John surgery, which led to him being moved from right field to first base.
Giancarlo Stanton's $325 million, 13-year contract with the Miami Marlins in 2015 was the largest and longest in baseball history at the time. However, he was traded to the Yankees in 2017, with the Marlins agreeing to pay $30 million of the remaining $295 million on his contract. Stanton has been plagued by injuries, missing 294 games in the last six seasons. In the first decade of his contract, he has maintained a .249 batting average, 275 home runs, 704 RBIs, and an .850 OPS.
Corey Seager's $325 million, 10-year contract with the Texas Rangers was finalized on the eve of the 2021-22 lockout. In his first year with the team, he led them to their first World Series title and was named the World Series MVP for the second time in his career. He has a .280 batting average, 96 home runs, 253 RBIs, and an .875 OPS in the first three years of his contract.
In December 2023, Yoshinobu Yamamoto signed the largest and longest contract for a pitcher in MLB history. As a 26-year-old right-hander, he went 7-2 with a 3.00 ERA in 18 starts, missing some time due to triceps tightness. In the postseason, he was 2-0 with a 3.86 ERA in four starts, including a win against the Yankees in Game 2 of the World Series.
In conclusion, these contracts not only set records but also show the value and talent of these players. AP Baseball Writer Ronald Blum contributed to this report. For more MLB news, visit AP MLB: https://apnews.com/mlb.
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