The Los Angeles Dodgers captured their eighth World Series title, and their first since 2020, with a dramatic 7-6 victory over the New York Yankees but few of the Yankees star did make a name for themselves in the MLB World. Two summers ago, the Washington Nationals presented Juan Soto with a stunning $440 million contract offer—the largest in Major League Baseball history at the time. But Soto, the Nats’ young star outfielder, turned it down, a decision that would set the stage for one of the most dramatic moves in recent baseball history. Not long after, the Nationals traded Soto to the San Diego Padres in a blockbuster deal.
Soto 's journey
Soto spent just over a season with the Padres, helping the team to a playoff berth but ultimately falling short of a World Series title. In 2024, the Padres shipped him off to the New York Yankees, where he again found himself on a star-studded roster. Yet, even with a lineup packed with heavy hitters, the Yankees couldn’t get past the Los Angeles Dodgers in the World Series, losing in five games.
As soon as the final out was recorded, the conversation in New York quickly shifted to what would happen next for Soto, who is now a free agent. While the exact terms of his next deal remain unclear, one thing is certain: the $440 million offer from the Nationals is likely going to look like a bargain in comparison to what Soto will command in 2024.
A New Deal for a New Era
Unlike most MLB contracts, Shohei Ohtani's recent $700 million deal was structured in a unique way. Ohtani will only earn $2 million per season for the duration of his ten-year deal, with most of the money deferred for a decade or more. When adjusted for inflation, Ohtani's contract doesn’t seem quite as lucrative as it first appears, though it’s still an incredible sum by any measure.
Soto, however, has made it clear he wants something very different. He’s looking for a massive payday—potentially even more than what Ohtani received—but with none of the deferred payments. At just 26 years old, Soto is entering the prime of his career, and any team that signs him is banking on having a star in their lineup for the next seven or eight years, with hope for continued production even as he ages into his late 30s.
Soto’s Career and Value
Juan Soto’s resume speaks for itself. The 2024 season saw him post a .288 batting average with a .419 on-base percentage and a .569 slugging percentage, while racking up 41 home runs, 109 RBIs, and 7 stolen bases. With 7.9 bWAR in 2024 alone, Soto’s career numbers are equally impressive: a .285/.421/.532 slash line, 201 home runs, 592 RBIs, and 57 stolen bases, all backed by a 36.4 bWAR.
In terms of accolades, Soto’s already a four-time All-Star, four-time Silver Slugger, and a two-time member of the All-MLB First Team, with a spot on the Second Team as well. Simply put, he’s one of the premier hitters in baseball, and he’s still just getting started.
As for his value, Spotrac estimates Soto’s market value at 14 years and $514 million, which would be an average annual value of $36.7 million. If the bidding for Soto’s services reaches that level, he could soon become the highest-paid player in MLB history, surpassing even Ohtani’s massive deal.
A Future in New York?
The frontrunners in the Soto sweepstakes are clear: the New York Yankees and their cross-town rivals, the Mets. Both teams have the financial muscle and the roster needs to make a run at Soto.
However, as Soto himself said after the Yankees’ World Series loss, “Every team has the same opportunities. I don’t want to say anybody has an advantage because, at the end of the day, we’re going to look at what they have and how much they want me.”
Changing Times
The past few years have seen some of the largest contracts in baseball history. Aaron Judge's $360 million deal with the Yankees was a landmark moment. Shohei Ohtani's $700 million contract dwarfed even that, setting a new benchmark for what the very best players can expect. But Soto is still younger than both of them. When Judge signed his deal, he was already 30. Ohtani was just shy of 30 when he inked his deal. Soto, however, debuted in the majors at just 19 years old and will turn 26 this week.
At an estimated $40 million per year, Soto’s deal could dwarf anything seen before in baseball, marking the start of a new era in MLB player contracts.
