Mets sign slugger Juan Soto to 15-year, $765 million contract

It’s the biggest deal in sports history.

Juan Soto has come to terms on a 15-year, $765 million contract with the New York Mets, according to ESPN’s Jeff Passan. The deal includes escalators that could push the deal north of $800 million, and includes no deferred money. The $51 million average annual value is the largest in baseball history, and the overall deal is the largest in professional sports history.

The 26-year-old is one of the youngest free agents available and has been one of the most patient hitters in baseball since he debuted in 2018. He has led the league in walks three times and has a career line of .285/.421/.532 in 936 games. This past year with the Yankees he led the league with 128 runs scored while hitting 41 home runs and hitting .288/.419/.569. He faced the Royals in the ALDS and was 4-for-14 with three walks and 2 RBI.

Soto was the most coveted free agent this off-season, with reported interest from the Yankees, Blue Jays, Phillies, Red Sox, and Giants. The Royals were even reported to have at least checked in on Soto.

The Mets barely snuck into the playoffs with an 89-73 record and beat the Brewers and Phillies before falling to the Dodgers in six games in their first NLCS appearance since 2015. He joins a Mets outfield that has Brandon Nimmo in left and newly acquired Jose Siri in center, with Tyrone Taylor and Sterling Marte also in the mix. The deal pushes the Mets projected payroll to $235 million - last year they had a $328 million Opening Day payroll.