Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

After being ‘here and there,’ Juan Soto finds home with Mets

Juan Soto is ready to make Queens his home

Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

Not many can escape the lure of New York. As it turns out, neither could Juan Soto, who made the short trip from the Bronx to Queens – this time with a record-breaking $765 million contract. Even with an opt-out after the fifth year, Soto finally feels like he has a place to call home.

From Washington to New York, Juan Soto didn’t end up too far

Juan Soto’s journey to the Mets has been anything but straightforward. He debuted with the Washington Nationals, won a World Series, and was offered a 13-year, $350 million extension – before turning it down. When the Nationals came back with an even bigger 15-year, $440 million offer, Juan Soto rejected that too, leading to a blockbuster trade to the San Diego Padres.

By then, it was clear: Soto was determined to test the free-agent market. After a brief stint with the Padres, he was traded to the New York Yankees as a one-year rental.

That year turned out to be arguably the best of his career – a season that saw him thrive alongside Aaron Judge, forming a powerhouse duo that had Yankees fans dreaming of a long-term partnership. But Soto had other plans.

Now would be a good time to remember the contract extension he was offered in 2022 before he was traded – 15 years, $440 million.

The Nationals’ original $440 million offer seemed massive at the time. But three years later, Juan Soto secured the largest contract in professional sports history – 15 years, $765 million with the Mets. And he feels good about it.

Juan Soto on being a Met for 15 years:

"After all these three years of changing teams, being here and there, it's a different vibe. It's unbelievable, I'm still learning. This is actually where I'm going to be for the next 15 years. I'm still learning to see but it's been fun'" pic.twitter.com/2Hq8IQBLoa
— SNY (@SNYtv) February 20, 2025

“After all these three years of changing teams, being here and there, it’s a different vibe. It’s unbelievable, I’m still learning. This is actually where I’m going to be for the next 15 years. I’m still learning to see, but it’s been fun,” Soto said.

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After years of moving around, Juan Soto finally has stability and is ready to make Queens his home.

Juan Soto

New York Mets

Yankees

Mohsin Baldiwala

mlb

Mohsin Baldiwala is a Master’s student in Journalism and freelance content producer who got hooked on baseball through Seinfeld’s hapless George Costanza. The same reason why he’s a Yankees fan. He writes about sports because he believes it can offer a brief escape from the world’s chaos. Even if that means enduring the heartbreak of the 2024 World Series.