SOURCES: METS LAND JUAN SATO ON 15-YEAR, $765M DEAL

Superstar outfielder Juan Soto and the New York Mets are in agreement on a 15-year, $765 million contract, sources told ESPN on Sunday night, the largest deal in professional sports history.

The deal includes an opt-out after five years and no deferred money, sources said. If Soto chooses not to opt out, his deal will go up $4 million per year -- from $51 million to $55 million -- for the remainder of the contract, meaning the total value could exceed $800 million.

The contract also includes a $75 million signing bonus, sources said.

The 26-year-old Soto, whose prodigious power, discerning eye and postseason bona fides created a free agent frenzy among some of the game's blue-blood teams, joins a Mets squad that made a surprising run to the National League Championship Series last season and is now poised to contend for years to come.

Following a standout season with the New York Yankees in which he guided the team to the World Series and finished third in American League MVP voting, Soto's presence in the free agent market drew significant interest. While the Mets, Yankees, Toronto Blue Jays, Boston Red Sox and Los Angeles Dodgers were among the final bidders, teams across the financial spectrum -- including the lower-payroll Kansas City Royals and Tampa Bay Rays -- explored signing Soto, covetous of his special bat.

The Yankees fielded a competitive offer -- a 16-year, $760 million deal with an annual average value of $47.5 million and no deferrals, sources told ESPN's Buster Olney. Ultimately, though, Soto decided on the Mets.

In seven major league seasons, the 6-foot-2, 220-pound Soto has hit .285/.421/.532 with 201 home runs and 592 RBIs and has accumulated more than 36 wins above replacement. Despite below-average corner-outfield defense, Soto distinguished himself with the best command of the strike zone since Barry Bonds, allowing him to hunt and punish pitches over the plate.

The $765 million guarantee exceeds the $700 million the Dodgers gave two-way star Shohei Ohtani on a 10-year deal last winter. While 97% of Ohtani's salary will be deferred for 10 years, Soto's deal contains no deferred money, lifting the net present value of his deal well above Ohtani's.

The contract, agreed upon after a monthlong sprint that included face-to-face meetings, three rounds of bidding and agent Scott Boras leveraging Soto's talent to drive the price to stratospheric levels, further validated Soto's decision in 2022 to turn down a 15-year, $440 million offer from the Washington Nationals, who had signed him as a 16-year-old out of the Dominican Republic and watched him blossom into one of the best players in the major leagues. Soon after Soto rejected the Nationals' overtures, they traded him to the San Diego Padres, starting a whirlwind 2½-year stretch that saw Soto moved twice.

He had arrived in Washington at 19 years old, a touted prospect who rocketed through the Nationals' system and debuted earlier than expected because of injuries to outfielders on the major league roster. In the first at-bat of his first start on May 21, 2018, Soto crushed a first-pitch fastball 422 feet to the opposite field. Over the next six seasons, he would hit more than half his home runs to center field and left field, a rare ability that epitomized his gifts at the plate.

In a game where the imbalance between pitching and hitting places offense at a premium, Soto illustrated year after year why so many evaluators revered his skill set. During his first full season in 2019, he hit three home runs in the World Series to lead the Nationals to an upset win over the Houston Astros. In the shortened 2020 season, Soto hit .351/.490/.695 with 13 home runs in 47 games and would likely have won the National League MVP award had a positive COVID-19 test and later an elbow injury not caused him to miss about a quarter of the season.

Soto thrived in 2021, walking 145 times, the only person this century to reach that threshold outside of Bonds. Washington's attempts to keep him in the nation's capital included multiple extension offers, all of which Soto turned down, leading to one of the biggest trades in baseball history at the 2022 deadline: Soto and first baseman Josh Bell to the Padres for outfielder James Wood, left-hander MacKenzie Gore, shortstop CJ Abrams, outfielder Robert Hassell III and right-hander Jarlin Susana.

In San Diego, Soto shook off a mediocre-by-his-standards final two months to rebound with a career-high 35 home runs and an NL-leading 132 walks in 2023. With free agency a year away and San Diego's attempts to extend Soto rebuffed, though, the Padres dealt him and center fielder Trent Grisham to the Yankees at the 2023 winter meetings for right-handers Michael King, Drew Thorpe, Randy Vasquez and Jhony Brito, and catcher Kyle Higashioka.

With the Yankees, Soto found the best version of himself. Batting second in front of Aaron Judge, he hit .288/.419/.569 with 41 home runs, 109 RBIs, an American League-leading 128 runs and 8 WAR. During the postseason, he was even better, slashing .327/.469/.633 with four home runs, nine RBIs and 12 runs in 14 games. His extra-innings home run in Game 5 of the AL Championship Series sent New York to its 41st World Series.

The timing couldn't have been better. The two most sought-after free agents this century have been Alex Rodríguez, a 25-year-old shortstop whose $252 million contract in 2000 doubled the previous high, and Ohtani, a boundary-breaking phenomenon whose skills and marketability helped him exceed the previous standard by a sum larger than Rodriguez's entire deal.

Prior to Soto's contract, the longest deal in baseball history was Fernando Tatis Jr.'s 14-year pact with San Diego. The prospect of locking in the remainder of Soto's prime -- not to mention any milestones he could pass on the way to the Hall of Fame -- appealed strongly enough that the teams in the bidding were willing to match the 15 years he received.

If any résumé warrants that sort of commitment, it's Soto's. He is already a four-time All-Star, four-time Silver Slugger, batting champion, Home Run Derby champion and World Series champion. His .421 career on-base percentage is tops in baseball since he debuted. His .532 slugging percentage is seventh. His .953 OPS and his 158 wRC+ are fourth. Soto's 769 career walks are the most for a player through his age-25 season -- 99 more than second-place Mickey Mantle.

The sustained excellence allowed Soto to thrive in the arbitration system, in which he made $54 million over the past two seasons. Add that to his new $765 million deal and Soto reaped $379 million more than he would have made had he accepted the Nationals' final extension offer.

"You cannot base a centurion player's value on other players," Boras said at the time. "You have to base it on financial markets."

The markets spoke loudly on Sunday night. And they said the largest deal ever belongs to Juan Soto.

ESPN's Jorge Castillo contributed to this report.

- Jeff Passan, ESPN

TWO-TIME AL MVP SHOHEI OHTANI FINALIST FOR FIRST NL AWARD

NEW YORK -- Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani is a finalist for his first National League MVP award -- after twice winning the American League honor -- and is joined among the top three in NL voting by New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor and Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman Ketel Marte.

New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge is a finalist for his second AL MVP in three seasons, joined by Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. and Yankees outfielder Juan Soto.

Ohtani was unanimously voted the AL MVP in 2021 and 2023 as a two-way star for the Los Angeles Angels and finished second to Judge in 2022. Ohtani signed a record $700 million, 10-year contract with the Dodgers in December, but he didn't pitch in 2024 following elbow surgery.

Ohtani would join Frank Robinson for the Cincinnati Reds in 1961 and the Baltimore Orioles in 1966 as the only players to win the MVP award in both leagues.

The Pittsburgh Pirates' Paul Skenes is a finalist in balloting for the NL Cy Young Award and NL Rookie of the Year. The 22-year-old right-hander becomes the fifth rookie to finish among the top three in Cy Young Award voting, after Mark Fidrych (1976), Fernando Valenzuela (1981), Dwight Gooden (1984) and José Fernández (2013). The only one to win both awards in the same year was Valenzuela in the NL.

Ohtani hit .310, stole 59 bases and led the NL with 54 homers and 130 RBIs exclusively as a designated hitter, becoming the first player with 50 or more homers and 50 or more stolen bases in a season. He helped the Dodgers to the World Series title, playing the final three games with a torn labrum in his left shoulder.

Ohtani would become the first primary DH to win an MVP award.

The top three finishers in voting for each of the major individual awards presented annually by the Baseball Writers' Association of America were announced Monday night on MLB Network. Winners will be revealed next week.

Balloting was conducted before the postseason.

Ohtani would become the 12th player with three or more MVPs, joining Barry Bonds (seven) and Jimmie Foxx, Joe DiMaggio, Stan Musial, Roy Campanella, Yogi Berra, Mickey Mantle, Mike Schmidt, Alex Rodriguez, Albert Pujols and Mike Trout (three each).

Shohei Ohtani would join Frank Robinson for Cincinnati in 1961 and Baltimore in 1966 as the only players to win the MVP award in both leagues. Allison Dinner/EPA

Lindor batted .273 with 33 homers, 91 RBIs and 29 steals, while Marte hit .292 with 36 homers and 95 RBIs.

Judge led the major leagues with 58 homers, 144 RBIs and 133 walks while hitting .322. Witt topped the big leagues with a .332 average while hitting 32 homers with 109 RBIs. Soto batted .288 with 41 homers and 109 RBIs.

Atlanta's Chris Sale and Philadelphia's Zack Wheeler are NL Cy Young Award finalists along with Skenes, who made his big league debut May 11 and went 11-3 with a 1.96 ERA in 23 starts, striking out 170 in 133 innings.

Detroit's Tarik Skubal, Kansas City's Seth Lugo and Cleveland closer Emmanuel Clase are the finalists for the AL honor. Clase becomes the first reliever to finish among the top three in voting since San Diego's Trevor Hoffman came in second in 2006 NL balloting.

Padres outfielder Jackson Merrill and Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Jackson Chourio joined Skenes as finalists for NL Rookie of the Year. Yankees right-hander Luis Gil and catcher Austin Wells are AL finalists along with Baltimore outfielder Colton Cowser.

Cleveland's Stephen Vogt, Kansas City's Matt Quatraro and Detroit's AJ Hinch are finalists for AL Manager of the Year. The three NL finalists were all first-year managers with their teams: the Mets' Carlos Mendoza, Milwaukee's Pat Murphy and San Diego's Mike Shildt.

- Associated Press

AS FREE AGENCY LOOMS, JUAN SOTO POWERS YANKEES TO WORLD SERIES

CLEVELAND -- The man who knows Juan Soto best didn't have a doubt.

Soto stood in the batter's box at Progressive Field. Two on, two out, tie game, 10th inning, another classic between the New York Yankees and Cleveland Guardians brewing in Game 5 of the American League Championship Series on Saturday. Another night of thrills and drama with the Yankees one win from their first World Series appearance in 15 years. Another opportunity for Soto to deliver under pressure. And Juan Soto Sr. knew -- he just knew -- his son would come through.

The trademark Soto shuffle after taking the first pitch for a ball. The stare-downs after fouling off four straight pitches. His refusal to concede. The elder Soto sensed his son was in his element.

"That's what he does: He performs in the clutch," he said in Spanish. "He works under pressure. And I was completely confident. I knew something was going to happen in that at-bat."

What happened was a moment that will live on Yankees highlight reels forever: a three-run homer on the first fastball Soto saw from Hunter Gaddis. It was a 95 mph, letter-high offering that Soto blasted over the wall in center field that ultimately sent the Yankees to the World Series for the first time since 2009 in a 5-2 win. They await the winner between the New York Mets and Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League Championship Series.

"It's a great feeling, to hit that homer and get the lead for the team," Soto said. "And coming through big time."

Soto's blast was the second extra-inning home run to clinch a postseason series in Yankees history, joining manager Aaron Boone's home run in Game 7 of the 2003 ALCS against the Boston Red Sox. It was Soto's 10th career postseason home run, tied for the second most in major league history for a player before his 26th birthday. Soto will turn 26 on Friday -- on the day of Game 1 of the World Series.

"I remember just going, 'Oh my God,'" Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said. "Did the prayer sign. And then knew that we had to somehow put them down in the bottom of the inning, because these guys don't go easy."

Luke Weaver completed that job, working around a single to toss a scoreless inning and rebound from his blown save in Game 3. Saturday's save sealed a game that began with the Guardians taking a 2-0 lead with runs in the second and fifth inning off Yankees starter Carlos Rodon.

That set the stage for the Yankees' other October-moment-seizing star. Giancarlo Stanton stepped to the plate with Gleyber Torres on third base and two outs in the sixth inning. On the mound stood Tanner Bibee, who had, to that point, given the Guardians exactly what they needed: 5⅔ scoreless innings. He had struck out Stanton in their first two clashes. A third appeared imminent when Stanton fell behind 0-2, but Bibee followed with three straight pitches that weren't enticing enough for Stanton to chase.

So Stanton waited. Finally, he got a slider that Bibee hung over the plate and pounced, demolishing the baseball at 117.5 mph off the bat and sending it 446 feet away for a game-tying home run. It was the 34-year-old Stanton's third straight game with a home run, and all came with two strikes. It was his 16th home run in 36 career postseason games, passing Aaron Judge and Babe Ruth for third most in Yankees history.

"It's a special moment for me," said Stanton, who was named ALCS MVP. "It's a special time. But this ain't the trophy I want. I want the next one."

Stanton spoke on the field as his teammates celebrated with coaches, front office personnel, support staff and family. Yankees fans filled the sections of seats behind their dugout. They cheered when players ran off. They chanted players' names. Occasionally, they chanted, "Re-sign Soto!"

Soto's impending free agency has hung in the background since the Yankees traded a haul of talented players for him in December. They believed the risk, after a disappointing 82-80 season without a playoff appearance, was worth the chance. He was the ideal complement to Judge and a proven postseason performer they believed would thrive while playing in New York City. They were right.

"We need him to stay," Stanton said. "He's going to stay. We need to bring it home, and then we'll bring him home also."

As Cashman added, "That was the whole purpose of going all-in. We gave up a lot, and it was a one-year deal for a lot of money. And so it was a big chess move, no doubt about it, that was designed to increase our chances. And it did."

Those chances increased Saturday because Soto didn't stray from the approach he takes into every at-bat, whether during spring training in February or on the biggest stage in October. Every plate appearance is a one-on-one battle, an opportunity to intimidate the pitcher with each shuffle, each stare-down, each healthy hack.

Soto won another battle in the 10th inning Saturday, against one of the best relievers in baseball. When he did, the Yankees' dugout erupted, players spilling out onto the field once the ball landed. Soto stopped halfway down the first-base line, turned to his team and pounded his chest twice with both hands. The ballpark, besides the pockets of Yankees fans, went silent.

"I've wanted it since day one," said Soto, who won the 2019 World Series with the Washington Nationals. "I've said it since spring training. Give me every hard moment. Give me every tough [at-bat]. I'm going to step up to the plate and try to do my best."

His father watched from the stands. There was never a doubt in his mind.

"I was confident," the elder Soto said. "He was waiting for his pitch because he wasn't going to go with the pitcher's pitch. And like he told me, if he makes a mistake or if he repeats it two times, it's gone. And that's how it went."

- Jorge Castillo, ESPN Staff Writer

YANKEES' AARON JUDGE FASTEST TO 3000 HRS, REACHING 995 GAMES

CHICAGO -- Aaron Judge noticed his teammates dancing in the bullpen as he rounded first. He got quite the reception when he crossed the plate, too.

Not only did he hit his 300th homer, the New York Yankees' slugger reached that milestone faster than any other player when he connected against the Chicago White Sox during a 10-2 victory on Wednesday night.

"It's a great achievement," Judge said. "Like I said a couple days ago, I was hoping it would come in a win. It came in a big win for us. We were down for a little bit, couldn't get much going, so I was just excited it was there in a big moment."

Judge hit the mark in his 955th game and 3,431st at-bat with a three-run drive in the eighth inning. The six-time All-Star and 2022 American League MVP drove a 3-0 up-and-in sinker from Chad Kuhl into the White Sox bullpen in left for his major-league-leading 43rd homer.

The Yankees let loose as the ball cleared the wall, jumping up and raising their arms and banging the dugout railing. After the game, DJ LeMahieu and Austin Wells doused Judge with a tub of water.

"That means a lot," Judge said. "These guys grind with me every single day. I know the hard work they put in. They see what I do. That was pretty special."

Ralph Kiner reached 300 homers in his 1,087th game, and Babe Ruth did it in his 3,831st at-bat.

"Those are some guys that have done a lot of great things in this game," Judge said. "You throw around a lot of those names to people who don't know baseball and they know who they are. It's a special group to be in."

Chicago was trailing 6-2 when interim manager Grady Sizemore intentionally walked Juan Soto to bring up Judge, who had not homered on a 3-0 pitch since 2021 and now has three such home runs in his career.

"I was mad about the intentional walk, so that kind of fueled," Judge said. "Usually 3-0, I'll take a pitch, see a pitch, kind of pass it on to the next guy. But in that situation, if they don't want to pitch to you, you got to come through."

"That means a lot," Judge said. "These guys grind with me every single day. I know the hard work they put in. They see what I do. That was pretty special."

Ralph Kiner reached 300 homers in his 1,087th game, and Babe Ruth did it in his 3,831st at-bat.

"Those are some guys that have done a lot of great things in this game," Judge said. "You throw around a lot of those names to people who don't know baseball and they know who they are. It's a special group to be in."

Chicago was trailing 6-2 when interim manager Grady Sizemore intentionally walked Juan Soto to bring up Judge, who had not homered on a 3-0 pitch since 2021 and now has three such home runs in his career.

"I was mad about the intentional walk, so that kind of fueled," Judge said. "Usually 3-0, I'll take a pitch, see a pitch, kind of pass it on to the next guy. But in that situation, if they don't want to pitch to you, you got to come through."

Judge leads the major leagues with 14 intentional walks. Soto was intentionally walked for the first time this season after hitting three homers Tuesday and another in the first inning Wednesday.

"It locks you in, but I get why he did it," Judge said. "The way Juan's been swinging the bat and what he's done in this series, four homers, driving the ball all over the park, I'd probably walk him, too, in that situation."

Sizemore made the decision in his fifth game after replacing Pedro Grifol as manager. He said the four homers by Soto caused him to make the decision.

"It's pick your poison. I'm not trying to get to Judge. I got a base open," Sizemore said. "There's no solution or an easy way out of that jam, but Soto's definitely been the hotter of those two bats, even though Judge has been hot, too."

It was just the second time in Judge's career that the batter before him was intentionally walked. The other time was during Judge's rookie year, on Aug. 31, 2016, when Chase Headley was intentionally walked at Kansas City in the 13th inning.

Judge, the 2022 AL MVP after hitting an American League-record 62 homers, is batting .333 and leads the major leagues with 110 RBIs. No. 300 came eight years and one day after Judge homered in his first big league at-bat.

"Definitely caught us off guard," Yankees manager Aaron Boone said of the intentional walk, "but Aaron was ready to throw up a great at-bat.

"I thought he expanded the zone a little bit too much there on 3-0," the manager said playfully.

Judge's home run measured 361 feet, tied for his second-shortest this season, trailing only a 339-foot one on May 19. It would not have been a home run in Yankee Stadium.

Judge is the seventh player to hit 300 home runs for the Yankees in franchise history, joining Ruth, Mickey Mantle, Lou Gehrig, Joe DiMaggio, Yogi Berra and Alex Rodriguez.

It took Judge 671 games to reach 200 career home runs; he needed just 284 games to go from 200 to 300.

Judge became the 162nd player all time to reach 300 homers. His total ranks 13th among active players.

ESPN Stats & Information, The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.

- ESPN News Services 

JUAN SOTO REACTS TO WINNING THE HOME RUN DERBY

JUAN SOTO WINS THE HOME RUN DERBY

 

DOUBLE OVERTIME SWING-OFF! | JUAN SOTO AND SHOHEI OHTANI PUT ON A HOME RUN | DERBY BATTLE OF THE AGES