Juan Soto's historic $765 million, 15-year contract with the New York Mets has taken the sports world by storm. This deal not only surpasses Shohei Ohtani's previous record but also sets a new benchmark for future contracts. Let's take a closer look at these remarkable agreements and the players behind them.

Unprecedented Deals in MLB History

Juan Soto's Groundbreaking Contract

Juan Soto, at just 26 years old, turned down a $440 million, 15-year offer from Washington and was traded multiple times before reaching free agency. His $765 million deal with the Mets is believed to be the biggest in sports history and doesn't include any deferred payments. This shows his immense value and the confidence teams have in his abilities. In his career with the Mets, he is expected to make a significant impact on the team and continue to shine on the field.In the first year of his contract, Soto won the World Series title and his third MVP award. He hit an NL-best.310 with 54 homers, 130 RBIs, and an OPS of 1.036. He also stole 59 bases, becoming the first 50-50 player. His performance in the first year alone is a testament to his talent and potential.

Shohei Ohtani's Multi-Faceted Deal

Shohei Ohtani's $700 million deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers is a unique one. It includes $680 million in deferred money payable from 2034-43, which is valued differently in various methods. For the luxury tax, it is discounted at 4.33% and listed as about $46.08 million annually. The players' association discounted it at 5% and valued it at approximately $43.7 million. For MLB regular payrolls, it is discounted 10% and listed at about $28.2 million.In the first year of the deal, Ohtani won his first World Series title and third MVP award. He hit.310 with 54 homers, 130 RBIs, and an OPS of 1.036. He also stole 59 bases, becoming the first 50-50 player. His performance in the first year alone is a testament to his talent and potential. After recovering from elbow surgery, he is expected to return to pitching in 2025.

Mike Trout's Struggles and Achievements

Mike Trout won his third AL MVP award in the first year of a contract agreed to in March 2019. However, over the last four seasons, he has played in just 266 games due to a strained right calf, back spasms, a broken left hand, and a torn meniscus in his left knee. Despite these injuries, he has still hit.281 with 138 homers, 306 RBIs, and an OPS of.995 in six seasons of the contract. His talent is undeniable, and his impact on the game is significant.

Mookie Betts' Championship Contributions

Mookie Betts agreed to a $365 million deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers in July 2020, five months after being acquired from Boston. He helped the Dodgers win titles in 2020 and 2024. In the first four years of the deal, he is hitting.283 with 116 homers, 322 RBIs, 52 stolen bases, and an OPS of.899. His all-around skills and leadership on the field have been crucial to the Dodgers' success.

Aaron Judge's Captaincy and Performance

Aaron Judge agreed to a $360 million deal with the New York Yankees after becoming a free agent and was appointed Yankees captain. In the first two years of the contract, he earned his fifth and sixth All-Star selections. He hit.300 with 95 homers, 219 RBIs, 221 walks, and an OPS of 1.104. His performance helped the Yankees reach the 2024 World Series, their first appearance since 2009.

Manny Machado's Contract Evolution

Manny Machado signed a $300 million, 10-year contract with the Padres as a free agent in February 2019, giving him the right to opt out after the 2023 season and forfeit $150 million. In March 2023, the Padres gave him a new deal raising their commitment to him to $470 million over 14 seasons. In six seasons with the Padres, he has a.275 average with 167 homers and 536 RBIs, earning two All-Star selections. In the first two seasons of his latest deal, he has a.267 average with 59 homers and 196 RBIs.

Francisco Lindor's All-Star Journey

Francisco Lindor was acquired by the Mets from Cleveland in January 2021 and agreed to a 10-year deal that started in 2022. Although he was the NL MVP runner-up to Ohtani in 2024, he has yet to be picked for another All-Star Game with the Mets. In his time with the Mets, he has a.259 average with 110 homers, 359 RBIs, and 86 stolen bases. His performance under the multiyear deal has been solid, and he continues to be a key player for the team.

Fernando Tatis Jr.'s Early Career

Fernando Tatis Jr. agreed to a $340 million deal in February 2021, which was at the time the longest in baseball history. However, he didn't play in 2022 due to recovering from surgery for a broken left wrist and an 80-game suspension for a positive test for the performance-enhancing substance Clostebol. Since signing the contract, he has hit.271 with 88 homers, 224 RBIs, 65 stolen bases, and an OPS of.855. His potential is still very much alive, and he will look to bounce back and have a successful career.

Bryce Harper's Phillies Career

Bryce Harper agreed to a $330 million contract in February 2019 as a free agent. In six years with the Phillies, he has won his second NL MVP award and been an All-Star twice, raising his total to eight. He is hitting.285 with 152 homers, 455 RBIs, and an OPS of.924. However, his 2023 season was delayed to May 2 due to Tommy John surgery, and he was moved from right field to first base.

Giancarlo Stanton's Injury-Prone Career

Giancarlo Stanton's $325 million contract with the Miami/New York Yankees was the largest and longest in baseball history when he signed it in November 2014. He set career bests with 59 homers and 132 RBIs in 2017 but has been on the injured list eight times in the last six seasons, missing 294 games. In the first decade of the contract, he is hitting.249 with 275 homers, 704 RBIs, and an OPS of.850. His talent is undeniable, but injuries have limited his playing time.

Corey Seager's World Series Victory

Corey Seager's $325 million deal with Texas was finalized on the eve of the 2021-22 lockout. He led the Rangers to their first World Series title in 2023 and earned his second World Series MVP award. In the first three years of the contract, he has a.280 average with 96 homers, 253 RBIs, and an OPS of.875. His leadership and performance on the field have been crucial to the Rangers' success.

Yoshinobu Yamamoto's Pitcher's Record Deal

Yoshinobu Yamamoto's $325 million deal in December 2023 is the largest and longest for a pitcher in major league history. As a right-hander who turned 26 in August, he went 7-2 with a 3.00 ERA in 18 starts but was sidelined between June 15 and Sept. 10 by triceps tightness. In four postseason starts, he was 2-0 with a 3.86 ERA and beat the Yankees in Game 2 of the World Series. His potential as a pitcher is immense, and this deal solidifies his place in baseball history.