Juan Soto, the star outfielder for the New York Yankees, is expected to leave the team in free agency for a massive contract. Soto is the top free agent this offseason, with numerous teams vying for his services. MLB insider Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet predicted on his At The Letters podcast on November 27 that Soto will sign a historic 15-year, $675 million deal with the New York Mets.
“This is my final projection for Soto, just so it’s on the record: $675 million over 15 years to the Mets, on December 15,” Nicholson-Smith said.
If Soto does secure a $675 million deal, it would be a monumental contract for the 25-year-old superstar. His agent, Scott Boras, will be hoping for a deal that matches or exceeds the $700 million threshold reached by Shohei Ohtani last offseason. However, even at $675 million, it would be a groundbreaking contract.
Soto had a standout season, batting .288 with 41 home runs and 109 RBIs.
As for when Soto might sign with a team, it’s expected that he will make his decision either before or during the MLB winter meetings in Dallas, which run from December 8-12. According to Ronald Blum of The Associated Press, Soto’s agent requested that teams submit initial offers by Thanksgiving. Soto has met with multiple teams, including the Yankees, Mets, Los Angeles Dodgers, Boston Red Sox, and Toronto Blue Jays, all of whom have expressed interest.
MLB reporter Buster Olney also believes Soto could make a decision within the next week or so. “Unlike last winter, when it felt like we were waiting on so many guys, I think Soto will make a decision within the next 10 days,” Olney said on TSN’s First Up on November 26. “One executive told me before the offseason began: ‘There’s not a lot of talent available, and many teams are going after the same guy.’”
Soto, a four-time All-Star and five-time Silver Slugger winner, remains one of the most coveted players in the league.
Meanwhile, Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge has publicly expressed his desire for Soto to stay in the Bronx. During a conference call to discuss his MVP win, Judge shared that he hadn’t spoken directly to Soto yet but emphasized that Soto knows how much he is valued in New York. Judge believes having Soto on the team would make the Yankees a serious World Series contender.
“Having Juan hitting in front of me means I get to see a lot of pitches,” Judge said. “He’s a tough at-bat, and he’s going to wear down pitchers quickly. If I could have eight Juan Sotos in the lineup with me, I’d love that.”
Whether or not Soto will choose to stay with the Yankees remains to be seen.
