Although Christmas is just around the corner, New York Mets fans have already had their wishes granted and presents delivered by Santa Claus. Good old Saint Nick came through for this long-suffering fanbase this month, as the Mets — long considered the Yankees’ “little brother” in New York — swiped All-Star slugger Juan Soto from the Yanks in a free-agent masterclass.
Soto has joined the Mets on a record-breaking $765 million contract — the duration of which, 15 years, should see the Dominican-born outfielder spend his most productive seasons plying his trade at Citi Field in the borough of Queens. Soto’s arrival signals Mets owner Steve Cohen‘s intention to build an annual World Series contender — and one of the world’s richest men is putting his money where his mouth is.
Mets closing in on $1 billion in salary commitments
After re-signing left-handed starting pitcher Sean Manaea to a three-year, $75 million contract, the Mets inched closer to $1 billion in winter spending, hoping to capitalize on the momentum generated by a surprise run to the NL Championship Series in 2024.
To date, the Mets have spent $916 million in free agency, with the bulk of that commitment going to Soto. New York has also spent more than $70 million to bolster its pitching depth, bringing in Clay Holmes and Frankie Montas to give manager Carlos Mendoza a rotation rich in variety as well as dollars.
If New York opts to reunite with slugging first baseman Pete Alonso — who remains unsigned — then the Mets’ spending will surely top the $1 billion mark, just one year after the Los Angeles Dodgers passed that financial milestone after signing Shohei Ohtani to a 10-year, $700 million free-agent contract.
The message to rest of MLB is clear: anyone hoping to rival the Dodgers and the Mets in the years to come has to spend, and spend big, to claim the NL pennant. Because the Mets, without a World Series win since 1986, aren’t planning on stopping any time soon.
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