Juan Soto is heading to the opposite facet of New York. Soto is leaving the Yankees and becoming a member of the Mets on a large 15-year contract value $765 million, reviews the New York Publish. That reportedly contains an choose out after 5 seasons, a $75 million signing bonus and no deferrals. The group has not but confirmed the deal.
The Mets beat out an aggressive and determined Yankees group to signal Soto. Different golf equipment had been concerned within the bidding, together with the defending World Collection champion Los Angeles Dodgers, however the Yankees had been the fiercest competitors. The Mets met Soto’s and agent Scott Boras’ asking worth, bought him on the group’s future, and satisfied him to go away the Bronx for Queens.
Soto, 26, joined the Yankees in a seven-player commerce with the San Diego Padres final offseason and had an excellent 12 months in pinstripes, slashing .288/.419/.569 with a profession excessive 41 residence runs and a profession excessive 7.9 WAR. He walked greater than he struck out for the fifth consecutive season, and in addition put up a .327/.469/.633 line with 4 homers in 14 postseason video games.
After teaming up with AL MVP Aaron Decide to kind the sport’s most devastating offensive duo since no less than David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez, Soto will now be part of NL MVP runner-up Francisco Lindor in Flushing. Lindor slashed .279/.344/.500 with 33 homers and 29 stolen bases along with stellar shortstop protection in 2024. The Mets now transfer ahead with two perennial MVP candidates.
Our R.J. Anderson ranked Soto the perfect free agent obtainable this offseason. Here is the write-up:
For the second offseason in a row, these rankings are topped by a future Corridor of Famer. Soto is, plainly, one of many 5 greatest hitters on the earth. He pairs elite plate self-discipline with elite power and elite barrel consciousness; that triumvirate empowered him to turn into the primary left-handed hitter in practically 20 years to document consecutive seasons by which he recorded no less than 35 residence runs and walked greater than he struck out. How’s this for consistency: Soto has been an on a regular basis big-league participant since he was 19 years outdated, but he is by no means completed a season (regardless of the variety of video games performed) with an OPS+ under 140. The dangdest factor about Soto is that, for as completed as he’s, subsequent season will characterize his age-26 marketing campaign. (To place that into perspective, Yankees catcher Austin Wells simply completed his first full big-league season following a fairly paced improvement path … and he is solely 260 days youthful than Soto.) Nitpick Soto’s protection and query how lengthy he’ll keep away from the DH function should you so select. Ultimately, you will need to concede that gamers this expert, this completed, and this younger seldom attain free company. Count on him to receives a commission in accordance to that actuality.
The Mets will now shift to different offseason enterprise, and reinforce the group round Lindor and Soto. Pete Alonso is a free agent and should be re-signed or changed. Sean Manaea, Jose Quintana, and Luis Severino ranked 1-2-3 on the group in innings in 2024 and are all free brokers, although the group has lately added some beginning pitching in Frankie Montas and Clay Holmes. The Mets additionally have to strengthen their bullpen and their bench, two issues POBO David Stearns excels at.
Between Soto, Starling Marte, and Brandon Nimmo, the Mets have three nook outfielders for 2 nook outfield spots, although the DH spot is open, and all three will probably cycle via. Marte has battled accidents the previous couple of years and slotting him in at DH could also be one of the best ways to maintain him on the sphere. Three gamers for 2 spots is not an issue. It is simply one thing the Mets need to work out.
The Mets went 75-87 in 2023 and issues went so poorly they bought on the commerce deadline. They then rebounded to go 89-73 in 2024, together with an MLB-best 65-38 after June 2, and made a spirited run to the NLCS. The Mets had been eradicated by the Dodgers in six video games. Now they’re banking on Soto taking them even additional in 2025, and past.
