The criticism of the millionaire contract of Juan Soto with the New York Mets has begun to silence. The Dominican outfielder is going through one of the best offensive moments of his career and his numbers in the month of June position him as one of the most dangerous hitters in MLB.
Soto has been instrumental in the New York team’s offensive resurgence. So far this month, he leads the majors with a 1.224 OPS, and has 10 home runs and more than 20 walks, something not seen in the franchise since 1987. His performance makes him not only an All-Star candidate, but also a central figure in the postseason race.
Soto’s contract now looks like a smart investment, considering the immediate impact he has had on the Mets’ collective performance. Beyond home runs and traditional statistics, analysts point to the increase in his “barrels” percentage, which rose from 5.6% in April to 22.6% in June.
Soto is currently in the second phase of voting for the 2025 All-Star Game, with more than 1.4 million votes accumulated. If he maintains this offensive pace, his presence as a starter in the Midseason Classic seems almost assured.
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A questionable contract
Juan Soto’s million-dollar contract generated a lot of criticism from the public and fans, however, it seems that with his current performances he has been paying and validating it. The contract signed is part of a historic milestone: 15 years, at least $765 million guaranteed without deferrals, with an option that can raise the total to more than $800 million.
In addition, it includes salary guarantees, benefits and personal autonomy. Not only does it strengthen the Mets on the field, but it also sets a precedent in the MLB free agent market.
In the list of the highest paid athletes
Juan Soto’s deal with the Mets not only shook MLB, but also positioned him among the highest-paid athletes of all time. His $765 million, 15-year contract far surpassed the likes of Shohei Ohtani and other iconic names in global sport such as Lionel Messi or Canelo Alvarez.
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