"Yankees Allegedly Offered $760 Million to Juan Soto Before Mets Deal"

Superstar Outfielder Juan Soto Signs Record 15-Year, $765 Million Deal with Mets, Ending Free Agency Saga

Juan Soto has agreed to a historic 15-year, $765 million contract with the New York Mets, officially closing the chapter on his free agency and making the move to Queens. The New York Yankees, where Soto played last season, were still in the running until the final stages, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post. Reports indicate the Yankees presented Soto with a $760 million offer over 16 years, but the 26-year-old ultimately chose to sign with Mets owner Steve Cohen and secure what could be a career-long tenure in New York.

The difference between the two offers is just $3.5 million in average annual value. Though there had been speculation that Soto's deal could surpass $800 million, Cohen and the Mets secured the record-breaking contract at $765 million, which exceeds Shohei Ohtani's $700 million deal, setting a new benchmark in professional sports.

Soto's contract is reported to have no deferred money, meaning he will collect the full value of the deal by the time it concludes in 2041.

In his lone season with the Yankees, Soto had a career-best year, hitting 41 home runs, driving in 109 RBIs, and posting a .989 OPS.