Did Juan Soto sign a new contract? Know all about the Dominican superstar's $765,000,000 deal with National League East team

The New York Mets have reportedly won the Juan Soto sweepstakes right before the start of the Winter Meetings in Dallas, Texas, on Sunday night. As per Mark Feinsand of MLB.com and other reports, the Mets have tied up the marquee free agent of this off-season with a record-breaking $765 million contract stretching 15 years.

The contract value surpasses the 10-year, $700 million deal that Shohei Ohtani signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers to become the largest ever offered in North American sports history. According to sources, Soto will also receive a $75 million signing bonus, while the contract will not contain any payment deferrals either.

Juan Soto is set to return to the NL East, where he made his MLB debut with the Washington Nationals in 2018 and finished as the runner-up for the National League Rookie of the Year. He rejected a $440 million extension in 2022 before getting traded to the San Diego Padres later that year.

Soto joined the New York Yankees in 2024 and posted an outstanding season before hitting the free-agent market for the first time in his career.

Therefore, the New York Yankees were believed to have a strong chance of acquiring Juan Soto if they made him a competitive offer. However, the New York Mets, with the riches of team owner Steve Cohen at their disposal, were regarded as the favorites to land the outfielder from the outset.

The Los Angeles Dodgers, the Boston Red Sox, and the Toronto Blue Jays were the other teams that had actively pursued the left-handed slugger this winter.

Thus far, Soto has racked up four All-Star Game appearances and five Silver Slugger awards to his name. He has a .285/.421/.532 slash line over his career, and his on-base percentage is the best among all active players.

Yankees narrowly lose out to Mets in the Juan Soto sweepstakes

Juan Soto arguably had the best season of his career with the Yankees in 2024 (Image Source: Imagn)

The New York Yankees publicly stated their intentions to bring Juan Soto back to the Bronx, while their fans expected the front office to do everything possible to sign the 26-year-old from the Dominican Republic.

According to a report by MLB insider Jon Heyman of the New York Post, the Yankees had tabled a 16-year, $760 million offer that was eventually declined by the player.

Soto had become an instant hit among the home supporters at Yankee Stadium. He ended the regular season on a .288/.419/.569 slash line with a 178 OPS+, 109 RBIs, and a career-high 41 home runs.

He was the best player for the Yankees in their postseason run to the World Series, going 16-49 with four home runs, nine RBIs, 14 walks, and an OPS of 1.102 as they claimed the American League pennant after a 15-year wait.