Juan Soto is reportedly on the verge of a massive contract extension with the Yankees, potentially matching Shohei Ohtani’s $700 million deal.
As Juan Soto gears up for the World Series with the New York Yankees, contract extension discussions are looming. Soto, currently on a one-year deal with the Yankees, will hit free agency after the series ends, and the speculation around his next contract is already gaining traction.
With Shohei Ohtani setting the bar by signing a massive 10-year, $700 million deal with the Dodgers, many are curious if Soto could land something similar. While a contract like Ohtani’s may not be on the table, “it seems like a pipe dream,” according to The Athletic’s Britt Ghiroli, Soto might still secure an impressive figure.
According to Spotrac, Soto’s estimated market value stands at 14 years, totaling $513.6 million—roughly $36.7 million per year. While that figure may seem underwhelming given his current $31 million salary, there’s reason to believe he could command more, especially given his consistent, elite performance.
New York acquired Soto in a blockbuster trade with the San Diego Padres last December, giving up seven players in exchange for the slugger. His impact has been undeniable. Soto finished the regular season with a .288 batting average, 41 home runs, and 109 RBIs. He also led the league in runs scored with 128.
Soto’s postseason performance has been equally impressive. He’s currently leading the Yankees with a .333 batting average, an OPS of 1.106, and has added three home runs and eight RBIs to his tally. His game-winning homer in the tenth inning of Game 5 against the Cleveland Guardians secured the Yankees’ first World Series appearance since 2009.
While the $514 million projection is already astronomical, Soto could command even more. His agent, Scott Boras, is known for securing hefty deals, and the $514 million might be the starting point for negotiations.
Boras could push for a contract closer to $600 million, especially with high-spending teams like the Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Yankees, and New York Mets likely to enter a bidding war.
Still, Soto remains focused on the immediate goal—winning the World Series for the Yankees. The team’s 28th championship is at stake, and the first game of the series kicks off at Dodger Stadium on Friday night.
Soto’s free agency is shaping up to be one of the most unique in MLB history. According to CBS Sports, their upcoming free-agent rankings will have Soto at the top. The reasons are clear:
“He pairs elite plate discipline with elite strength and elite barrel awareness; that triumvirate empowered him to become the first left-handed hitter in nearly two decades to record consecutive seasons in which he hit at least 35 home runs and walked more than he struck out.”
Soto has shown remarkable consistency since debuting as a 19-year-old. Despite his young age, he’s never had a season with an OPS+ lower than 140, a feat that highlights his elite skills. And next season, when Soto turns 26, he’ll already be entering his prime.
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