When you are Juan Soto and sign a $765 million contract, you’re making headlines whether you like it or not. This guy just locked in the biggest contract in professional sports history, a 15-year mega-deal with the New York Mets.
While the number itself is enough to make anyone’s jaw drop, here’s the kicker: it wasn’t even the highest offer he received.
Juan Soto Chose Culture Over Cash
Yeah, you heard that right. Soto himself admitted that other teams were willing to pay more. Let that sink in. Imagine having a check on the table that’s even bigger than three-quarters of a billion dollars—and saying, “Nah, I like the vibe over here better.” That’s exactly what happened.
So why did Soto choose the Mets over the deep-pocketed Red Sox? Culture. He said it himself. The environment in Queens won him over, and that’s what sealed the deal.
A $765 Million Contract, but a Jersey Number Problem
Now, let’s talk about that little side deal Soto made once he got to spring training. If you’re going to be the face of a franchise, you’ve got to have your number, right?
Soto’s always been a No. 22 guy, but Mets third baseman Brett Baty already took that number. So, how do you convince a guy to give up the jersey he’s worn for three seasons?
Simple. You hand him the keys to a brand-new Chevrolet Tahoe as a thank you. Yeah. Not a handshake, not a dinner—an SUV. Baty, who was still driving his old 2016 Toyota 4Runner from high school, was in disbelief.
“No, you didn’t,” he said, probably thinking, this is a joke, right? Nope, not a joke. Soto made sure the message was clear—he even had “Thanks for #22” written on the back window.
Big Moves On and Off the Field
So, what do we take from this? Juan Soto is not only one of the most talented hitters in baseball, but he also knows how to make a power move. He had teams practically throwing mountains of cash at him, yet he chose the Mets.
And when he wanted his jersey number, he didn’t haggle—he gifted an SUV. If this is how his Mets tenure is starting, you can bet there’ll be plenty more headline-worthy moments to come.
