Juan Soto has come to terms with the New York Yankees on a new 1 year, $31M contract, which is the largest deal in MLB history for a one year arbitration eligible player. The deal passes the previous high-water mark of $30M set last season by Shohei Ohtani.
Soto was acquired in an offseason deal alongside outfielder Trent Grisham from the San Diego Padres in exchange for RHP Michael King, Jhony Brito, and Randy Vasquez, catcher Kyle Higashioka, and prospect Drew Thorpe.
The 25 year old hit .275 with a 35HRs, 97 runs and 109 RBIs in 2023, while appearing in all 162 games with the Padres. His home run total represented a career best, as were his 12 stolen bags on the season.
Originally signed as an international free agent in 2015 by Washington, Soto has gone on to appear in 3 All-Star games, capture 4 Silver Slugger awards, and was a member of the Nationals 2019 World Series winning team. Soto is widely viewed as one of the most talented hitters in all of baseball, and now joins a lineup that features other power bats such as Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton and Anthony Rizzo.
“He’s as good an offensive player as there is,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said of Soto before the offseason trade was completed. “He is a machine offensively, on base, power, and has accomplished a ton already at a young age.”
The left handed bat’s propensity to get reach base safely will be huge asset for the Bronx Bombers, as Soto walked more than he struck out for the 4th consecutive season in 2023. As a result of his efforts, he finished 6th in NL MVP voting.
Soto has been non-committal thus far about signing a long term deal, that will easily fetch him hundreds of millions of dollars when he hits the open market. The Scott Boras client is likely taking notes of the contracts doled out this winter as he prepares to become a UFA in 2025.
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