The Juan Soto sweepstakes have finally come to an end.
According to multiple reports, one of the biggest free agents in baseball history has been signed by the Mets, inking Soto to a 15-year, $765 million deal that sends the 26-year-old to Queens for potentially the rest of his career.
Soto had been reportedly coveted by the Yankees, Mets, Red Sox, Blue Jays, and Dodgers, but Mets ultimately won out for arguably the most coveted free agent the sport has ever seen given his age and immense talent. Per multiple reports, the deal includes a $75 million signing bonus with no deferrals.
After being acquired by the Yankees in a blockbuster trade last winter, Soto proved to be made for the big stage, smashing a career-high 41 home runs in front of Aaron Judge while posting a .989 OPS and a 178 OPS+, his highest mark ever in a full season (excluding the shortened 2020 campaign). When October rolled around, Soto was once again every bit as advertised, going 3-for-5 in his Yankee playoff debut and ultimately finishing with a 1.102 OPS and a .327 batting average in 14 playoffs games, helping the Yanks win their first pennant in 15 years.
Soto sent the Yankees to the World Series with a game-winning home run in the clinching game five of the ALCS in what is arguably the most memorable home run in Yankee history since Aaron Boone's walk-off home run in game seven of the 2003 ALCS. Now, he will suit up across town for a Mets team that made a surprising run to the NLCS, is armed with a replenished farm system and the richest owner in baseball.
Questions linger about Soto's defense and baserunning, and how both will hold up in the latter years of a long-term deal, but for now, and likely years to come, the Mets have secured one of the best, and most complete, hitters in baseball that is still likely in the early parts of his prime.