Red Sox come up short as Juan Soto signs $765 million deal with Mets

The Red Sox reportedly offered a contract worth at least $700 million over 15 years for Soto.

Juan Soto is heading to the Mets. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez, File)

December 8, 2024

2 minutes to read

Juan Soto isn’t heading to Boston.

According to several reports, the 26-year-old superstar outfielder has signed a 15-year, $765 million contract with the New York Mets — standing as the largest deal in professional sports history.

The Red Sox were viewed as one of the final suitors for Soto amid weeks of speculation and an intense bidding war for the coveted slugger.

According to MassLive’s Sean McAdam, the Red Sox’ final offer to Soto and his agent, Scott Boras, was “around $700 million for 15 years”. That proposed contract offer would dwarf the previous largest deal handed out by Boston — Rafael Devers’ 11-year, $331 million extension that he inked in January 2023.

Even with Boston’s hefty offer, MassLive’s Chris Cotillo reported that the Red Sox “were beginning to resign themselves to the fact he was headed to a NY team throughout the day.”

Soto’s previous team, the Yankees, are probably feeling the sharpest sting of Sunday’s news.

Beyond the pain of seeing Soto head across town to the Mets, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reported on Sunday that the Yankees’ final offer to Soto was for $760 million across 16 years.

Soto was expected to land one of the largest contracts in professional sports entering the offseason, given his age (turned 26 on Oct. 25), impressive resume, and impact on a Yankees squad that made it to the World Series.

Soto is coming off a 2024 season in the Bronx where he finished third in AL MVP voting after hitting .288 with 41 homers, 31 doubles, 109 RBIs, a .419 on-base percentage, and .989 OPS over 157 games.

After missing the playoffs five of the last six years, the Red Sox made a significant push to try and sign Soto this winter, with longtime MLB insider Ken Rosenthal tabbing Boston as a “surprising force” in the sweepstakes for the slugger.

Despite Boston’s interest and aggressiveness in getting a deal done with Soto, the Red Sox — much like the Yankees — are back at square one now that Soto has signed with the Mets.

With MLB’s Winter Meetings now in full swing and the top free-agent target in Soto off the board, Boston will need to move quickly if it wants to shore up a roster that needs more pitching and right-handed pop at the plate.