Soto's Historic $765M Deal with Mets Set to Break Sports Records

Mon Oct 20 2025 23:26:29 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

Juan Soto may be on the verge of signing the largest contract in sports history, prompting discussions about the future of athlete salaries.

Dominican slugger Juan Soto is reportedly finalizing a groundbreaking $765 million deal with the New York Mets, making headlines as the largest contract in the history of sports.

Reports from various U.S. sources indicate that the 26-year-old outfielder has reached an agreement with the Mets for a staggering 15-year contract worth approximately £600 million, pending a medical examination. The deal includes a hefty $75 million signing bonus and could potentially escalate to a value of $800 million without any deferred payment structures, a rarity in Major League Baseball (MLB) contracts.

This monumental agreement outstrips the previous record held by Shohei Ohtani, who signed a 10-year deal worth $700 million with the Los Angeles Dodgers, which included a significant amount of deferred compensation. The trend of deferred payments has frequently made headlines in American sports, showcasing how teams manage financial structures in their rosters.

Soto's potential contract also reveals the running theme of increasing pay in professional sports. For instance, Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott recently set a new NFL record with a four-year extension worth $240 million. Similarly, Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes previously inked a 10-year deal worth $450 million, while Boston Celtics’ Jayson Tatum granted a five-year contract reportedly valued at $314 million. Notable soccer contracts include Cristiano Ronaldo’s lucrative deal with Al-Nassr and Lionel Messi’s agreement with Inter Miami, which further highlight the escalating wave of athlete compensation.

Soto, who spent the 2024 MLB season with the New York Yankees, played a pivotal role in leading the team to the World Series. Despite their defeat in the championship against the LA Dodgers, Soto showcased his skills with a batting average of .288, hitting 41 home runs and achieving 109 runs batted in (RBIs).

Before his stint with the Yankees, Soto made waves with the Washington Nationals and the San Diego Padres, attaining significant accolades including a World Series championship with the Nationals in 2019. With an impressive career record of 936 regular-season games, 201 home runs, and a batting average of .285, Soto has firmly established himself as a powerhouse in baseball.

As Soto prepares to seal what many are calling a historic contract, discussions on the implications for player salaries and the evolving landscape of professional sports economics continue to gain momentum.