DALLAS (AP) — Juan Soto has officially signed a groundbreaking $765 million, 15-year contract with the New York Mets, finalized on Wednesday. As part of this significant deal, he will enjoy complimentary access to a luxury suite and up to four premium tickets located behind home plate for regular-season and postseason games at Citi Field.
In addition to these perks, the Mets will provide personal security details for Soto and his family during all spring training and regular-season home and away games. According to the agreement details obtained by The Associated Press, this is a customary measure, as MLB teams typically offer security for players’ families in stadium seating areas.
As part of his contract, the Mets committed to assisting Soto’s family with travel arrangements throughout the season. Notably, Soto will wear uniform No. 22, which he has donned while playing with the Washington Nationals, San Diego Padres, and New York Yankees. However, the number has been used by third baseman Brett Baty with the Mets for the past three seasons.
A press conference to officially welcome Soto will take place at Citi Field on Thursday afternoon, during which Mets owners Steve and Alex Cohen will express their excitement. “This is a seminal moment in franchise history,” they stated. “Juan Soto is a generational talent who brings extraordinary statistics along with a championship mindset.”
Soto’s luxury suite benefits will be valued at current market rates for potential tax considerations, and he may choose to alter or forfeit his suite selection each year by January 15 after 2025. He can also request premium tickets for family members up to 72 hours prior to any scheduled game.
Comparatively, the Yankees declined to offer Soto a suite as part of their negotiations. Yankees general manager Brian Cashman remarked that select high-paid players must purchase suites themselves, citing previous arrangements with players like CC Sabathia, Aaron Judge, and Gerrit Cole. “We’ve gone through a process on previous negotiations where asks might have happened, and this is what we did, and we’re going to honor those, so no regrets there,” he noted.
In terms of financial specifics, Soto’s contract includes a hefty $75 million signing bonus, payable within 60 days post-approval by the commissioner’s office. His earnings will notably surpass Shohei Ohtani’s previous contract, with Soto set to receive salaries of $46,875,000 for the years 2025 and 2026, $42.5 million in 2027, and $46 million for the final ten seasons of the agreement.
Additionally, Soto has a conditional right to opt out of the contract following the 2029 World Series to enter free agency, though the Mets hold an option to negate this provision by boosting his annual salaries for 2030-2039 by $4 million, thus increasing the total contract value to $805 million. Soto has the option to decide on the opt-out by the fifth day after the World Series if the Mets do not exercise their right by the third day following the Series.
Soto’s contract is further enhanced by a full no-trade clause, and he will also receive accommodations for hotel suites during away games. Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns emphasized the significance of today’s signing, stating, “It reinforces our commitment to maintaining a high level of competitiveness in our organization. Juan not only delivers remarkable on-field performance but his enthusiasm and determination reflect our evolving culture. We eagerly anticipate his impact on our team in the years ahead.”
As part of his contract, Soto can earn various bonuses, including $500,000 for achieving his first MVP award and $1 million for each additional MVP honor. He could also receive $350,000 for second place in MVP voting and $150,000 for third to fifth place finishes. Soto placed third in AL voting this year. Bonuses are also granted for each All-Star selection and Gold Glove award, with amounts of $100,000 each, and further bonuses of $350,000 for World Series MVP and $150,000 for LCS MVP. Notably, he would receive $100,000 for being named to the All-MLB first or second team, $150,000 for winning a Silver Slugger award, and $100,000 for the Hank Aaron Award. All bonuses will be paid by January 31 of the year following the season in which they were earned.
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