The worst-case scenario that could have happened for the Atlanta Braves with the Juan Soto sweepstakes happened as the lefty slugger signed a massive 15-year, $765 million contract with the New York Mets on Sunday night.
Mets owner Steve Cohen hasn't been afraid to drop money and he gave out one of the most lucrative deals in MLB history.
Soto's deal doesn't include deferrals and features one opt-out clause after the 2029 season. He also receives a $75 million signing bonus, according to MLB.com's Mark Feinsand. This deal surpasses the huge contract New York handed Francisco Lindor a few years ago.
Juan Soto is great for the Mets. The NL East is way more fun now.
— Justin Toscano (@JustinCToscano) December 9, 2024
If you’re the Yankees, you can use that money to build a more well-rounded team. Baseball is such that there are multiple ways to skin a cat.
Hopefully this means we’re in for a fun week in Dallas.
Braves nightmares came true as Juan Soto returns to the NL East
Atlanta enjoyed a few years without Soto torturing them when he was with the Washington Nationals. However, the Mets found a way to outbid the Yankees and brought him back to his familiar division.
During the first four and a half years of his career, Soto gave the Braves fits at the age of 19. He carries a career .325 average with 12 doubles, 19 home runs, 51 RBI, 81 BB, 60 K, and a 1.118 OPS against the Braves. He was not missed by Atlanta fans, but now they will have to deal with him for the next decade and a half.
Soto is coming off arguably his best season with a .288/.419/.569 line with 41 home runs, 109 RBI, and accumulated a 7.9 WAR. Those magnificent numbers, alongside his successful career thus far, guaranteed he would receive a blockbuster contract.
Buckle up Braves fans as it's going to be a long 15 years of watching the Soto shuffle in Atlanta. The Mets just got a lot better. Now eyes will be on the top teams of the NL East to see how they'll respond.