New York Mets’ Juan Soto worst free-agent signing? MLB insiders call $765 million deal ‘insane’ in shocking poll
Juan Soto blew away expectations this offseason, signing a record-breaking $765 million contract with the New York Mets — the largest in professional sports history.
It was initially expected Soto would command $500-600 million, but he shocked everyone by surpassing Shohei Ohtani’s $700 million contract record just one year later.
The 15-year deal for the 26-year-old means Soto should be in his prime for roughly half the contract, barring any major injuries.
Despite general positive reception, a surprising number of MLB insiders called it the worst free-agent signing of the offseason.
10 MLB insiders tell The Athletic Juan Soto was worst free-agent signing
In a poll conducted by 10 MLB insiders rated Soto’s contract the worst in free agency, while nine said it was the best.
“I think the length and the amount of dollars that (the Mets) spent on him are just… insane. He’s going to be a one-dimensional player, and he’s close to a one-dimensional player now. Great hitter. And he’s going to be great for five, seven years. But after that, good luck,” one insider told Stark.
Another was more specific: “I just think that $700 million for a guy who’s going to be a DH (soon) — that blows me away. When Shohei got his $700 million, that made perfect sense to me, even independent of the value he creates in Japan. He’s a $35-million-a-year hitter and a $35-million-a-year pitcher. So it’s easy. There’s your $70 million. But Soto is going to be, in no time at all, a very, very expensive DH. And that just shocks me. I’m not downplaying any of his significant offensive gifts. But for me, there’s no way I’m going to do that deal for a guy who only helps me win games in one way.”
Soto is coming off a 2024 season where he helped lead the New York Yankees to a World Series appearance in his lone year in the Bronx. He hit 41 home runs with a .989 OPS, 178 OPS+, and 7.9 bWAR while finishing third in American League MVP voting.
Soto is expected to help bring multiple World Series championships to Queens. If not, the contract will go down in infamy.
