DALLAS – The Mets are set for a Juan-derful holiday season. In a move that will resonate across MLB and the global sports arena, Juan Soto has agreed to a record 15-year, $765 million contract with the Mets, according to sources, marking the start of the Winter Meetings. This deal surpasses the $700 million, 15-year contract (with substantial deferrals) that Shohei Ohtani received from the Dodgers last winter, which MLB valued at $460 million due to the deferrals.

At 26, Soto will become a cornerstone for the Mets, joining Francisco Lindor to form a formidable 1-2 punch that could rival—if not exceed—any duo in baseball. Last season, Soto was part of a similar dynamic with the Yankees, where he teamed with Aaron Judge to guide the team to the World Series for the first time since 2009. The Yankees made a strong push to re-sign Soto, increasing their offer to 16 years and $760 million—more than double what they gave Judge in free agency (nine years, $360 million) before the 2023 season. Ultimately, it was Steve Cohen’s offer that secured Soto for the Mets, delighting a fan base that has long felt overshadowed by the Yankees.

Cohen previously signed Lindor to a 10-year, $341 million contract before he hit free agency, a deal that was the largest in Mets’ history until Soto’s agreement. Last season with the Yankees, Soto hit a career-high 41 homers and maintained a .288/.419/.569 batting line. He joined the organization last year during the Winter Meetings in a trade from the Padres, which included Trent Grisham, for Michael King, Kyle Higashioka, Jhony Brito, Drew Thorpe, and Randy Vasquez.

Last winter, the Mets aimed to make a splash in free agency but were disappointed when Japanese ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto signed a 12-year, $325 million contract with the Dodgers, the richest ever for a starting pitcher. The Mets had offered a similar deal but lost out largely due to geographical factors. Soto’s addition more than compensates for missing out on Yamamoto. The Mets plan to place Soto in right field alongside Lindor, Mark Vientos, and Brandon Nimmo, aiming to build on last season’s unexpected run to Game 6 of the NLCS.

With Soto secured, Mets officials can now focus on Pete Alonso, who has expressed a desire for a long-term deal. Alonso, represented by Scott Boras, has repeatedly stated his wish to remain with the only organization he’s known. The Mets will need to determine how far they are willing to go with Alonso after securing Soto’s record contract.

Team president of baseball operations, David Stearns, has primarily focused on pitching, signing Frankie Montas to a two-year, $34 million contract and Clay Holmes to a three-year, $38 million deal. The Mets also acquired Jose Siri in a trade with the Rays earlier in the offseason. Soto’s addition might prompt the Mets to trade Starling Marte, who has one year left on his contract, though they could also retain him as part of a DH mix.

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