New York Yankees superstar outfielder Juan Soto is now an unrestricted free agent after coming up just short of his second World Series ring.
Soto has declined contracts worth north of $400 million over the last few seasons, just so he could make it to unrestricted free agency. At the time, many around baseball were skeptical as to whether he was making the right decision or not.
Now that he's here, it's very obvious Soto made the right decision.
Experts around the league have projected Soto to receive well north of $500 million in free agency. Spotrac projects Soto to land a 14-year $513.6 million deal in free agency.
But it's nearly impossible to project a deal like what Soto is going to get, mainly because his situation is unprecedented.
The outfielder is just 26 years old, but he's played seven years in the big leagues (6.5 years if you count the 2020 season as a half-season). In that time, Soto has totaled 36.4 WAR while slugging 201 home runs and posting a 160 OPS+.
Soto is a four-time All-Star, four-time Silver Slugger, one-time World Series champion, one-time Batting Champion, and a one-time Home Run Derby Champion.
The Yankees, Dodgers, and Mets are set to battle out one of the biggest bidding wars in professional sports history with Soto this winter.
If the Yankees bid $500 million, the Mets will bid $510 million and the Dodgers will bid $525 million. Do you see how quickly the price could run up here? Ultimately, the contract will land north of $600 million, deservedly so.
Official Prediction: 14 years, $609 million ($43.5 million/year)
More MLB: Lucas Giolito High School Connection Could Help Red Sox Land Ace
English (US) ·