Scott Boras clarifies that Juan Soto’s deal with the Mets has no deferred payments, emphasizing its current value.
Queens: The New York Mets just introduced Juan Soto at a press event, and it’s a big deal! He’s officially joined the Mets after signing a jaw-dropping 15-year, $765 million contract.
This contract is the biggest in sports history, surpassing Shohei Ohtani’s recent deal. Ohtani’s contract was worth $700 million, but Soto’s takes the cake!
Scott Boras, Soto’s agent, mentioned that Ohtani’s deal had a lot of deferred money, but that wasn’t on the table for Soto. They wanted a deal that reflected today’s value.
Soto’s contract doesn’t have any deferred payments and includes a hefty $75 million signing bonus. Boras isn’t against deferred contracts, though. He pointed out that Blake Snell’s recent deal has some deferred money, too.
Soto is excited about the Mets and the potential for a winning team. He was even hosted by Mets owner Steve Cohen at his mansion, which helped sway him from the Yankees.
Cohen has been spending big since he bought the Mets in 2020, aiming to bring home a World Series title. He mentioned that the process to sign Soto was competitive and challenging.
Interestingly, Soto turned down a massive 16-year, $760 million offer from the Yankees. The Mets sweetened their deal with personal security for Soto’s family and a luxury suite at Citi Field.
Soto liked the family-friendly vibe the Mets are promoting. He felt the love from the team and appreciated how they plan to take care of his family.
In the end, it seems the combination of a record contract and a supportive environment made all the difference for Soto.