Juan Soto to the Mets: Donovan Mitchell, baseball world react to reported megadeal
On the eve of baseball's winter meetings, Juan Soto answered the question on everyone's minds: Where will he play in 2025 (and way beyond)? Turns out Soto liked New York. He and the New York Mets reportedly agreed on a 15-year, $765 million megadeal on Sunday night.
It's the richest known deal in the history of sports after Shohei Ohtani's 10-year, $700 million deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers last offseason, which included heavy deferrals. Soto's is also the longest contract in MLB history, passing Fernando Tatis' 14-year, $340 million contract with the San Diego Padres.
Needless to say, the baseball world and beyond were abuzz after the news dropped, with Cavs star and Mets fan Donovan Mitchell seemingly welcoming Soto to New York via a FaceTime call.
LFFFGGGMMMMMM @JuanSoto25_ pic.twitter.com/uf7x64yvqW
— Donovan Mitchell (@spidadmitchell) December 9, 2024
It's difficult to put Soto and this deal into context given how unique of a player and free agent Soto was this winter.
Juan Soto is a 4-time All-Star + just turned 26
on Opening Day, he’ll play for his 4th MLB team
Soto will be the 1st player to make 4+ All-Star teams AND change teams thrice ALL before turning 27 (h/t @EliasSports) https://t.co/4K53OdhAZM— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) December 9, 2024
How times have changed ...
Robert Kraft, as an example, once bought the New England Patriots for $172 million…. https://t.co/F5tyFbnrpF
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 9, 2024
Babies are going to be born and raised, kids are going to become adults during Juan Soto the Met era. Ask if it’s a players market… 15 years.
— Melanie Newman (@MelanieLynneN) December 9, 2024
So much of the baseball world has revolved around the World Series champion Dodgers of late, but Mets owner Steve Cohen majorly shifts the conversation with this move.
SNY breaks in with the news that Juan Soto is going to the Mets.
"For the Mets to go in and give this enormous deal. This, to me, proves that Steve Cohen, when he wants a player, can go get him and use the power of his pocket book to do so."
- Anthony Mccarron. pic.twitter.com/ZlHvGHm93H— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) December 9, 2024
Noted Yankees fan Desus Nice had some thoughts:
congrats to Juan Soto the new robinson canó
— Desus MF Nice💯 (@desusnice) December 9, 2024
Shouts to Herbert h Lehman high school legend bobby bonilla for no reason what so ever tonight pic.twitter.com/M0hcqhcRKS
— Desus MF Nice💯 (@desusnice) December 9, 2024
Knicks guard Josh Hart is sticking with the pinstripes.
Still Go Yanks!
— Josh Hart (@joshhart) December 9, 2024
Roger Clemens, who earned about $165.5 million in his career, was amazed by the price.
Wow! What do we think about this? That’s a lot of money 💰 https://t.co/rATaCwzaAh
— Roger Clemens (@rogerclemens) December 9, 2024