Category: Baseball

<!–>

DALLAS — For the New York Yankees, there is no relief in discovering that their brand — the rich history and the weight of the pinstripes — mattered little to Juan Soto. Monument Park was calling the slugger’s name all year as he and Aaron Judge combined to post arguably the best offensive season in MLB history by teammates not named Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig. A century later, Soto had the opportunity to build a Yankees legacy had he decided to spend the remainder of his career on 161st Street. 

But, make no mistake, this wasn’t about loyalty. Judge’s decision to accept a lesser contract offer from the Yankees in his 2022 free agency was connected to his homegrown odyssey through their system. Soto owed no such fealty to the franchise, and he was free to assess the strengths and weaknesses of the Yankees organization with an open mind during his 2024 season in the Bronx. No matter how the Yankees slice it, Soto looking beyond their 44 Hall of Fame players, 27 championships, and 59 playoff appearances is a gut punch. 

That context matters as the team navigates where to go from here. If there’s a world where losing Soto to the crosstown Mets (despite a nearly equal offer) can be a positive for the Yankees, then Hal Steinbrenner and Brian Cashman must find a way to migrate there. Like Steinbrenner said at last month’s owners’ meetings in Manhattan, “I know what’s expected of me.” After the Soto fallout, he is still expected to pivot to a strong Plan B and make the most of the offseason by spreading the finances he reportedly offered the top free agent on the market ($760 million over 16 years) between a few different impact players who could fill his club’s glaring roster holes.

Let’s examine three areas the Yankees must address to revive their offseason with the ultimate goal of winning their first championship since 2009.

1. Outfield

Who will be roaming right field for the Yankees on Opening Day? The club might handle its Soto-sized hole a couple of different ways. Judge can move back over to right, where he’s played the most games in his major-league career. Jasson Domínguez, the organization’s No. 1 prospect, could take over in center field, where he’s played 239 minor-league games versus 58 games in left field and one game in right. 

Such a defensive formation would free up space for the Yankees to acquire free-agent left fielder Teoscar Hernandez, who would be a terrific fit in the Bronx after his strong season with the championship Dodgers. Hernandez set career highs in home runs (33) and walks (53), all while playing 154 games (second-most on the Dodgers behind Shohei Ohtani), earning his third career Silver Slugger award. The Yankees saw firsthand how impactful Hernandez can be this past season, first in June when he swatted an eighth-inning grand slam to propel the Dodgers to a series win, and then again in the World Series as he posted a .931 OPS during L.A.’s triumph. 

Beyond Hernandez, the Yankees could also go for free-agent right fielder Anthony Santander and keep Judge in center while shifting Dominguez to left. Santander, like Hernandez, is another power-hitting corner outfielder who set a career high in home runs (44), RBIs (102), walks (58) and OPS (.814) in a full season. The Yankees have watched Santander rake on the Orioles in the AL East for the past eight years, and it would be ideal for them to flip the script there. But their commitment would likely have to be higher and longer on a deal for Santander, who is just 29, than they would for Hernandez, who figures to land a shorter contract since he’s 31. 

Either way, the Yankees need to land one of those two corner outfielders to replace Soto, because there’s a huge drop-off in talent after them.

[RELATED: How the Mets plucked Juan Soto from the Yankees | Ten biggest contracts in MLB history: Juan Soto’s $765 million with Mets tops list]

2. First base

Replacing Anthony Rizzo with someone in-house, like Ben Rice, would’ve been a fair path to take had the Yankees managed to sign Soto. But since they didn’t, Cashman & Co. should be going for one of the two top first basemen on the market. Either Pete Alonso or Christian Walker could help make up for Soto’s production in the lineup, but neither of them will come cheap. That shouldn’t be a problem, though. As noted, the Yankees should be going for players at the top end of the market with the money that was originally offered to Soto. So, which direction makes the most sense for the Yankees now?

Let’s tackle the Alonso argument first. The Yankees could respond to Soto bolting to the Mets by stealing the Polar Bear from Queens. It would definitely sting for the Mets, since Alonso is a homegrown slugger, half the jerseys that fans wear around Citi Field are his No. 20, and president of baseball operations David Stearns has said multiple times this offseason that they “would love to bring Pete back.” Beyond the New York rivalry, Alonso is an obvious match for the Yankees with their hole at first and need for power. The 30-year-old is said to be looking for a long-term contract in the range of five years, and the Yankees might have some concerns about Alonso’s defensive value toward the end of that deal, as his eventual role figures to be designated hitter.

Then there’s Walker, who is four years older than Alonso, but has been markedly better and more consistent on defense throughout his career. Since 2019, Walker leads all first basemen in outs above average (58), and nobody is even close to sniffing that kind of defensive value. At the plate, Walker doesn’t have Alonso’s power numbers, but his 95 homers over the past three seasons would represent a notable upgrade from what they’ve been getting. (The last first baseman to homer for the Yankees was fill-in DJ LeMahieu — in July). Walker’s age could be a red flag for an upcoming decline, whereas Alonso prioritizes staying on the field. Only Freddie Freeman and Matt Olson have played more games at first base than Alonso since his 2019 debut. 

These are the types of discussions the Yankees brass are having at this week’s winter meetings as they determine which direction to go. It’s also clear that the club can’t wait too long to make a decision given how weak the market for first basemen is beyond Alonso and Walker.

3. Starting pitching

Give credit to the Yankees for making sure Gerrit Cole stayed in pinstripes after he exercised his opt-out earlier this offseason. The attention has now shifted to the rest of the rotation, particularly whether the supporting cast is solid enough to be a dominant force in the playoffs. The emergence of Luis Gil was a huge boon for the staff, and it will be interesting to see how he builds on that success in his sophomore season after winning Rookie of the Year. Even with Gil’s help, the Yankees should still be shopping at the top of the market in both free agency and trades.

Starting with the latter, White Sox ace Garrett Crochet would be a great fit in the Bronx given his age (25) and trajectory. As evidenced by reliever-turned-starter Clarke Schmidt, the Yankees are big fans of converted starters, and Crochet immediately found success in 2024 in his first full season in a rotation. The southpaw struck out 209 batters across 32 starts, posting a 3.38 ERA in 146 innings. Saddling him with Cole and Carlos Rodón would give the Yankees one of the better pitching trios in baseball. 

Looking at free-agent starters, Corbin Burnes is widely viewed as the best option available. He’ll certainly be the most expensive, but that shouldn’t be an issue with Soto’s departure. The 29-year-old ace is coming off his fourth consecutive All-Star season, this time with the Orioles, registering a 2.92 ERA and 1.096 WHIP across 32 starts and 194.1 innings. Beyond the obvious advantage of adding a star like Burnes to complement the in-house ace in Cole, his immediate and smooth success with Baltimore after being traded demonstrates that he can excel in a new environment (and league). That’s important to the Yankees as they look for players who have the rock-solid demeanor to handle New York.

Deesha Thosar is an MLB reporter for FOX Sports. She previously covered the Mets as a beat reporter for the New York Daily News. Follow her on Twitter at @DeeshaThosar.

[Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily.]

–>

---

---

Link to Original Article - on Fox Sports

<!–>

The Los Angeles Dodgers expect Shohei Ohtani to be ready to hit when the reigning World Series champions open their season in Japan against the Chicago Cubs on March 18 and 19.

“I don’t think he’d have it any other way,” manager Dave Roberts said Monday of the NL MVP who had left shoulder surgery last month. “That’s our expectation.”

Coming off his third MVP award, Ohtani is doubtful to pitch while recovering from elbow surgery in September 2023. Roberts said a mound appearance in Japan is “very unlikely.”

“I just don’t see us starting the clock in March to then think that we would keep that continuously going through October,” Roberts said during the winter meetings. “Then that would call for a break or reprieve in the middle of the season, so I don’t know. I still think unlikely.”

Ohtani had surgery Nov. 5 to repair a torn labrum in his non-throwing shoulder, an injury the 30-year-old sustained while sliding during a stolen base attempt in Game 2 of the World Series on Oct. 26. He didn’t pitch at all during the first season of his $700 million, 10-year deal with the Dodgers while recovering from surgery on the elbow, which previously underwent Tommy John surgery in October 2018.

A unanimous National League MVP after becoming the first player with at least 50 homers and 50 stolen bases in a season, Ohtani surely wants to be in the lineup in Japan.

“It’s not cemented. If something doesn’t look right, feel right, obviously we’ve got to pivot. Maybe a lot of disappointed fans,” Roberts said. “We’re going to do what’s best for Shohei. But where we stand right now, I expect him to play.”

Reporting by The Associated Press.

[Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily.]

–>

---

---

Link to Original Article - on Fox Sports

<!–>

These were Juan Soto’s numbers in 2024: 41 home runs, 109 RBIs, a .288 batting average.

Keep doing that over the next 15 years, and he’ll be making roughly $1.2 million for every home run. Or $467,890 for every RBI. Or $307,229 for every hit.

(Pre-tax, of course.)

Soto’s $765 million, 15-year agreement with the New York Mets — the richest contract in terms of total value to a player in U.S. major sports history, a massive move by billionaire Mets owner Steve Cohen — provides a chance to look at the numbers in some very silly ways.

He’ll make $314,815 per game. Based on his numbers this season, he’d get $671,053 for every extra-base hit. Or $46,322 every time he swings the bat — no matter if he misses, hits a tapper back to the mound or has Mr. Met celebrating in the stands after driving one out at Citi Field. Of course, that’s assuming Soto remains as healthy and productive as he was in 2024. If he misses significant time, those rates just go up.

“Thank you Uncle Steve,” Mets outfielder Brandon Nimmo wrote on social media.

[Read more: Ten biggest contracts in MLB history: Juan Soto’s $765 million with Mets tops list]

Some of the numbers around the sports world, when broken down by accomplishment, are simply eye-popping in this era. (And keep in mind, these examples are based on current earnings, not taking into account restructurings or any other potential changes.)

A look:

The two-time Cy Young winner will earn about $65 million in 2025, most of which is a signing bonus that comes his way in January. He has also never made more than 32 starts in a season. If he makes 32 starts in 2025, he’d be getting (when factoring in the signing bonus) $2,031,250 per game. For comparison’s sake, Detroit’s Tarik Skubal made $2.65 million for the entire 2024 season — and won a Cy Young award.

His record $700 million deal is no longer a record because of the Soto deal, but Ohtani still holds the mark for average total value at $70 million a year. The only member of baseball’s 50-50 club (54 homers, 59 stolen bases in 2024) would — at this past season’s rate — be making $619,469 every time he hits one out or steals a base.

It’s unfair to break down his stats this year because he’s hurt, but Prescott’s current deal is worth an average of $60 million a season from Dallas. Based on his career average, that means over the lifetime of his current contract, Prescott gets $13,680 for every passing yard.

NFL: Quarterbacks in general

The per-game numbers in the NFL for starting QBs are wild. Patrick Mahomes’ current $450 million contract isn’t even at the top of the cash-per-game standings: Prescott gets about $3.5 million for every regular-season game, while Jacksonville’s Trevor Lawrence, Cincinnati’s Joe Burrow and Green Bay’s Jordan Love are around $3.25 million/game.

At nearly $56 million this season, Curry leads the NBA salary race (for this year, anyway). The NBA’s all-time 3-point king is earning about $680,000 per game in 2024-25; if he was paid by the 3-pointer only, he’d be getting about $161,908 every time he makes one of those this season.

Brown is starting a five-year deal worth around $285 million, Tatum will start a five-year deal next year worth around $314 million. At those rates, the Celtics would be paying their two best players (at their current scoring paces) around $27,406 for every point scored. To compare — Larry Bird, for his career, made about $1,100 per point.

Based just on his MLS-guaranteed salary, Messi got just over $1 million per goal this season ($20.4 million, 20 goals). Again, just counting the MLS salary — his full deal with Inter Miami is worth at least $150 million for 2.5 years — Messi made $229 for every second he was on the field during the 2024 regular season.

Scheffler’s official earnings in 2024 were $29,228,357 (plus an Olympic gold medal, which is priceless). And that doesn’t include $34,037,500 million in bonuses and unofficial earnings, including $25 million for winning the FedExCup. Add it all up, and that meant the world’s No. 1 player earned about $11,243 per shot he took this season.

He’ll start a contract next year that will pay him an average of $14 million a season over eight seasons. At his current rate of scoring, he’d be earning roughly $119,393 for every goal or assist over that span.

Shesterkin just got the richest extension for a goalie, $92 million over eight years. At his current averages, every time he makes a save, he’ll be earning $5,084.

Reporting by The Associated Press.

[Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily.]

–>

---

---

Link to Original Article - on Fox Sports

Video Details

Link to Original Article - on Fox Sports

<!–>

Hard-throwing Japanese right-hander Roki Sasaki was posted to Major League Baseball teams and will be available to sign as a free agent from Tuesday through 5 p.m. ET on Jan. 23.

The Chiba Lotte Marines said on Nov. 9 that they planned to make the 23-year-old Sasaki available but waited until less than a week before the end of the posting period.

Because he is 23, Sasaki is considered an international amateur by MLB and is limited to a minor league contract subject to the international signing bonus pools usually allocated for 16-year-old Latin American prospects. The 2024 signing period ends Sunday and the 2025 period opens on Jan. 15, with team pools ranging from $7,555,500 to $5,146,200.

Teams may trade for additional pool allotment in $250,000 increments starting Jan. 15 but are limited to adding 60% of their initial amount.

Chiba will receive a posting fee from the acquiring MLB team equal to 25% of the signing bonus.

[Read more: Who is Roki Sasaki? What to know about the Japanese pitching sensation bound for MLB]

When Shohei Ohtani agreed to join the Los Angeles Angels in December 2016 at age 23, he received a $2,315,000 signing bonus. Ohtani had salaries of $545,000, $650,000 and $259,259 (in pandemic-shortened 2020) during his first three seasons, earned $3 million, $5.5 million and $30 million in his three years of arbitration eligibility and then agreed to a record $700 million, 10-year contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers ahead of the 2024 season.

Sasaki is represented by Joel Wolfe of Wasserman Media Group and is expected to become one of the most sought-after pitchers on the market. He went 10-5 with a 2.35 ERA in 18 games this year, striking out 129 hitters in 111 innings.

[Read more: Ten biggest contracts in MLB history: Juan Soto’s $765 million with Mets tops list]

Sasaki helped Japan win the 2023 World Baseball Classic. His fastball has been clocked at 102.5 mph, and he has a 29-15 career record with a 2.10 ERA over four injury-shortened seasons with the Marines. He pitched a perfect game against the Orix Buffaloes in April 2022 — racking up 13 straight strikeouts and finishing with 19.

“Since I joined the team, the team has been listening to my thoughts about my future MLB challenge, and I am very grateful to the team for officially allowing me to post,” Sasaki said in a Nov. 9 statement posted by the Marines on the social platform X.

“There were many things that did not go well during my five years with the Marines, but I was able to get to this point by concentrating only on baseball, with the support of my teammates, staff, front office, and fans. I will do my best to work my way up from my minor contract to become the best player in the world, so that I will have no regrets in my one and only baseball career and live up to the expectations of everyone who has supported me.”

The Athletics, Cincinnati, Detroit, Miami, Milwaukee, Minnesota, Seattle and Tampa Bay enter the international signing period with $7,555,500 available for each.

Arizona, Baltimore, Cleveland, Colorado, Kansas City and Pittsburgh have $6,908,600 apiece, followed by Atlanta, Boston, the Chicago Cubs and White Sox, the Los Angeles Angels, New York Mets and Yankees, Philadelphia, San Diego, Texas, Toronto and Washington at $6,261,600.

Houston and St. Louis each have $5,646,200, and the Dodgers and San Francisco have $5,146,200.

Reporting by The Associated Press.

[Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily.]

–>

---

---

Link to Original Article - on Fox Sports

<!–>

DALLAS — Talk about a New York City robbery. It wasn’t just the top free-agent jewel that the Mets stole from the Yankees; Steve Cohen hijacked the crown, too. 

Less than two months after Juan Soto helped take the Yankees to the World Series, Cohen’s Mets blew him away Sunday with the largest contract in professional sports history. Soto did end up going to the highest bidder — the Mets’ reported pact with the slugger is for $765 million over 15 years. But the Yankees’ offer apparently wasn’t too far behind, bringing into question whether Soto wanted to play in Queens all along. 

If that’s the case, then there could be a couple of factors that swayed him one borough over. 

The Yankees’ reported offer of $760 million over 16 years would’ve given Soto an average annual value of $47.5 million, which is just $3.5 million shy per year of what he’ll earn with the Mets. Soto’s Mets deal also reportedly includes a $75 million signing bonus. If that difference in dollar amount is all that mattered to Soto, then it makes sense that he agreed to the highest offer on the table. But since the Yankees’ offer was pretty close to what he ended up agreeing to, it sure seems like Soto wanted to make a statement that both fan bases in New York won’t take lightly. 

RELATED: Ten biggest contracts in MLB history: Juan Soto’s $765 million with Mets tops list

The Mets — not the Yankees — represented the more appealing long-term destination to Soto in part because of how much they were willing to spend, no doubt. But Cohen also prioritizes getting to know the people in his organization — from players, to front office personnel, to security staffers — on an intimate level. He forms that relationship by routinely appearing on the field, walking through the Mets clubhouse, and just simply being available and around. Cohen’s wife, Alex, spends time around the Mets dugout, catching up with players during batting practice, too. It’s rare for any owner in professional sports to be as visible as the Cohens are with the Mets. Just take a look at the situation across town. 

Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner doesn’t mingle in the clubhouse, and is rarely spotted around Yankee Stadium to talk with his players. One former Yankees player who spent eight seasons in pinstripes said he spoke to Steinbrenner just once or twice during his time in the Bronx. Steinbrenner has a closer relationship with captain Aaron Judge, particularly after Judge’s frenzied 2022 free agency that resulted in Steinbrenner getting on the phone and completing a long-term pact with the Yankees slugger. Judge confirmed as recently as last month that he has an open line of communication with Steinbrenner, and he appreciates that availability from the owner. 

Apparently, Steinbrenner doesn’t share that same dynamic with many in the building, let alone the guy who was his No. 1 priority this winter. Soto asked Steinbrenner, when the two sides met in California last month, why he didn’t approach him during this past season in the Bronx, and he wondered why the owner didn’t try to form a closer relationship with Soto. Steinbrenner, fairly or not, said he wanted to give Soto space because he was so clearly locked in, enjoying his best career season, and he didn’t want to get in the way of that.

In the end, waiting to form a close relationship with Soto might have been a colossal mistake on Steinbrenner’s part. 

Cohen’s players routinely voice how much they love playing for the Mets because it feels like a family. There’s an open trust around Citi Field, particularly during this David Stearns/Carlos Mendoza era. Mets players have said they feel like they can be themselves in Queens. 

One recent moment that painted a picture of the Cohens feeling like “one of the guys” to left-hander Sean Manaea was when Alex Cohen’s dad, affectionately known as Mets grandpa, was doused in champagne in the middle of their clubhouse after they advanced to the National League Championship Series.

Through that everyday visibility, Cohen sends the message that he cares about his team. And for the players that go through the 162-game grind of a season, in hopes of reaching October and ultimately being the last team standing, having that open relationship with the top brass in the organization matters a great deal. Shortstop and de-facto captain Francisco Lindor says it all the time: It takes every single person in the organization to win, and that includes the responsibility of the ownership to form a close relationship with players, the front office working hard to fill roster holes, and the manager sticking up for his clubhouse. 

As MLB’s winter meetings unfold in Dallas this week, Cohen’s commitment to winning has never been clearer. 

No one was going to stop him from acquiring Soto, certainly not the crosstown rival Yankees nor MLB’s luxury tax penalty, when all he had to do was continue to increase his offer. When Cohen bought the Mets franchise in 2020, he said he wanted to win the World Series in the ensuing 3-5 years. The upcoming season will be Year 5. Snatching Soto from the Yankees was a statement-making step in that championship-caliber direction, and the Mets are a threat to win it all with the generational slugger suiting up in the orange and blue — for the next decade and a half.

Welcome to the newest era of Mets baseball, where the little brother might have just become the bully.

Deesha Thosar is an MLB reporter for FOX Sports. She previously covered the Mets as a beat reporter for the New York Daily News. Follow her on Twitter at @DeeshaThosar.

[Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily.]

–>

---

---

Link to Original Article - on Fox Sports

<!–>

Juan Soto’s new contract has set a record, but there are some complexities to it. 

The newest New York Mets star agreed to a 15-year, $765 million deal with his former team’s crosstown rival late Sunday night. Not only does the contract surpass the $700 million deal that Shohei Ohtani signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers last offseason, but it’s also the largest deal in North American sports history.

Here’s what else we know.

No deferred money

Unlike Ohtani’s contract, Soto will receive zero deferred money, according to ESPN.Ohtani memorably had $680 million of his $700 million contract deferred, which brought the average annual value of the contract for Competitive Balance Tax purposes down to $46 million, as estimated by MLB. So, the $51 million average annual value of Soto’s contract would be the richest in MLB history, at least as it relates to the luxury tax. 

It could end up being worth more than $800 million

As part of the deal, Soto received a $75 million signing bonus, according to FOX Sports’ Ken Rosenthal. 

But the deal has the potential to become even richer. It includes escalators that would bring its value to more than $800 million, according to ESPN.

There’s an opt-out clause

The deal also allows Soto to potentially become a free agent again in his prime. Soto, 26, will have an opt-out following the fifth season of the deal in 2028 when he’s 31, according to multiple reports. 

However, the Mets can void Soto’s opt-out if he were to exercise that option. In that event, New York would escalate the average annual value of his contract from $51 million to $55 million over the final 10 seasons of the deal, according to Rosenthal.

Soto rejected big-money offers from the Yankees and Red Sox

Soto also turned down multiple offers worth at least $700 million. His former team, the New York Yankees, made him a 16-year, $760 million offer, the New York Post reported. As the total value of the Yankees’ offer fell just short, it was believed that Soto’s old club was in the lead to land his services before Mets owner Steve Cohen “came in from the top rope,” to get the deal done, SNY reported. 

The Boston Red Sox, who were also in on Soto, made an offer that was worth around $700 million over 15 years, per MassLive. It was reported earlier in the week that the Toronto Blue Jays had a bid that was competitive with what the other teams in the sweepstakes were pitching at the time, while the Dodgers were just a little bit behind.

Even though anyone would be happy to be in a position to juggle multiple $700 million offers, Soto seemed to be overjoyed by his decision on Sunday. His brother posted a video on social media of Soto getting sprayed by drinks, ending the priciest sweepstakes in the history of North American sports. 

[Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily.]

–>

---

---

Link to Original Article - on Fox Sports

From the moment Steve Cohen bought the New York Mets, the accompanying tagline has been that he’s the richest owner in baseball. That manifested more than ever on the eve of the 2024 winter meetings, as the Mets and superstar outfielder Juan Soto on Sunday night reportedly agreed to a 15-year, $765 million deal. It is the largest (and longest) deal in MLB history, topping Shohei Ohtani‘s $700 million pact with the Dodgers from last year.

Here’s a look at the top 10 deals ever doled out in MLB, and how those players performed after signing their historic contracts.

(Note: these values are based on data from Spotrac.com)

1. Juan Soto, New York Mets: $765 million over 15 years (reported)

• Soto’s 15-year deal topped Fernando Tatis Jr’s. 14-year extension as the longest in MLB history. He will be 40 years old when the deal is complete.
• Career stats: .285/.421/.532, 201 HRs, 592 RBIs, 769 BBs, 395 XBH, 160 OPS+
• Five-time Silver Slugger, Four-time All-Star
• Three top-five finishes in MVP voting
• 2020 batting champ
• Led MLB in walks three times, on-base percentage twice, slugging once, OPS once

2. Shohei Ohtani, Los Angeles Dodgers: $700 million over 10 years

• After spending the first six seasons of his MLB career with the Angels, Ohtani signed a record-breaking contract in 2023 to remain in Southern California and play for the Dodgers. The deal, which includes $680 million deferred, will end after Ohtani turns 39 years old.
• Stat line after deal (2024): .310/.390/.646/, 54 HRs, 130 RBIs, 99 XBH, 59 SBs
• Career pitching line (did not pitch in 2024): 38-19, 481.2 IP, 3.01 ERA, 608 K, 1.082 WHIP
• One of just nine players in MLB history with multiple 40-HR and 20-SB seasons
• Three-time unanimous MVP (only player to win unanimously multiple times)
• Prior to Ohtani, the most homers hit by a player with 10 or more wins as a pitcher was 11 by Babe Ruth in 1918. Ohtani hit 46 in 2021, 34 in 2022 and 44 in 2023.
• Ohtani was the only American League pitcher in 2022 with at least 130 innings pitched to hold opponents to a batting average under .200.
• Four-time All-Star
• Two-time AL MVP (2021, 2023); NL MVP (2024)
• Three-time Silver Slugger
• Fourth in 2022 AL Cy Young voting

3. Mike Trout, Los Angeles Angels: $426.5 million over 12 years

• Trout signed this deal in 2019, and it extends through the 2030 MLB season, at which point he will be 39 years old.
• Stat line after extension (2019): .281/.397/.598/.995, 138 HRs, 306 RBIs, 168 OPS+
• Notables since extension:Four-time All-Star2019 AL MVPTwo-time Silver SluggerHas missed 417 out of a possible 870 possible games
• Four-time All-Star
• 2019 AL MVP
• Two-time Silver Slugger
• Has missed 417 out of a possible 870 possible games

4. Mookie Betts, Los Angeles Dodgers: $365 million over 12 years

• After being traded from the Red Sox in 2020, Betts signed a 12-year extension with an MLB-record $65 million signing bonus. Betts helped deliver a World Series title that very year.
• Stat line after extension (2021): .288/.373/.527/, 116 HRs, 322 RBIs, 145 OPS+
• Notables since extension:Three-time All-StarFinished top-five in MVP voting twice2022 Gold GloveTwo-time Silver Slugger
• Three-time All-Star
• Finished top-five in MVP voting twice
• 2022 Gold Glove
• Two-time Silver Slugger

5. Aaron Judge, New York Yankees: $360 million over nine years

• Before 2022, Judge bet on himself. Then the slugger made history and slugged an AL-record 62 homers and secured his $360 million deal. The deal will take him through the 2031 MLB season, at which point he will be 39 years old.
• Stat line after deal (2023): .300/.438/.666/, 95 HRs, 219 RBIs, 204 OPS+
• Notables since extension:2024 AL MVPTwo-time All-Star223 OPS+ in 2024 was highest by a right-handed hitter in MLB history
• 2024 AL MVP
• Two-time All-Star
• 223 OPS+ in 2024 was highest by a right-handed hitter in MLB history

6. Manny Machado, San Diego Padres: $350 million over 11 years

• After signing a 10-year, $300 million deal with the Padres in 2019 free agency, Machado re-upped with San Diego for a jaw-dropping $350 million. Machado will be 43 years old by the time the last year of the deal arrives.
• Stat line after extension (2023): .267/.322/.467/, 59 HRs, 196 RBIs, 116 OPS+
• Notables since extension:Silver Slugger
• Silver Slugger

7. Francisco Lindor, New York Met: $341 million over 10 years

• Lindor was the face of the Cleveland franchise but was traded to the Mets and agreed to an extension with the team in 2021. The deal is through the 2031 season, but his contract is set up with $50 million in deferred money due to him in $5 million annual payments from 2032 to 2041.
• Stat line after extension (2021): .259/.336/.461/, 110 HRs, 359 RBIs, 86 SBs 122 OPS+
• Notables since extension:2024 MVP runner-upTwo-time Silver Slugger
• 2024 MVP runner-up
• Two-time Silver Slugger

8. Fernando Tatis Jr, San Diego Padres: $340 million over 14 years

• Tatis Jr. inked his contract when he was just 22 years old in 2021. The deal, which is far from the only long-term commitment on the San Diego books, will take him through the 2034 season, at which point he will be 35.
• Stat line after extension (2021): .271/.341/.514/, 88 HRs, 224 RBIs, 65 SBs 134 OPS+
• Suspended for 80 games for use of performance-enhancing drugs in August 2022
• Notables since extension:Two-time All-StarOne-time Gold Glove, Silver Slugger
• Two-time All-Star
• One-time Gold Glove, Silver Slugger

9. Bryce Harper, Philadelphia Phillies: $330 million for 13 years

• After playing with the Nationals for his whole career, Harper left for the division-rival Phillies in 2019. His 13-year deal is the longest given to a free agent, and at the time it was signed, the contract was the largest in MLB history.
• Stat line after deal (2019): .285/.391/.533/, 152 HRs, 455 RBIs, 149 OPS+
• Notables since extension:2021 NL MVP2022 NLCS MVPTwo-time All-StarThree-time Silver Slugger
• 2021 NL MVP
• 2022 NLCS MVP
• Two-time All-Star
• Three-time Silver Slugger

T-10. Giancarlo Stanton, Miami Marlins/New York Yankees: $325 million over 13 years:

• In 2014, Stanton capitalized on his stardom by signing the then-richest deal in MLB history. That deal expires after the 2027 season. Stanton was traded to the Yankees just three seasons after he signed the monster extension.
• Stat line after extension (2015): .249/.334/.516/, 275 HRs, 704 RBIs, 131 OPS+
• Notables since extension:Three-time All-Star2017 MVP2022 All-Star Game MVP2017 Silver Slugger
• Three-time All-Star
• 2017 MVP
• 2022 All-Star Game MVP
• 2017 Silver Slugger

T-10. Corey Seager, Texas Rangers: $325 million over 10 years

• Seager had become a playoff hero even before signing with the Rangers prior to the 2022 season. The shortstop’s deal, which now looks very much worth it, ends in 2031 when he will be 37.
• Stat line after deal (2022): .280/.350/.524, 96 HRs, 253 RBIs, 143 OPS+
• Notables since extension:Three-time All-Star2023 World Series MVP2023 MVP runner-up2023 Silver Slugger
• Three-time All-Star
• 2023 World Series MVP
• 2023 MVP runner-up
• 2023 Silver Slugger

T-10. Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Los Angeles Dodgers: $325 million over 12 years

• Yamamoto signed the largest contract of any pitcher in MLB history, narrowly eclipsing Gerrit Cole’s nine-year, $324 million pact with the Yankees. 
• At 25 years old, he was posted by the Orix Buffaloes last winter following one of the most dominant stretches in Japanese baseball history. He was a three-time Pacific League Most Valuable Player and has a lifetime ERA of 1.82.
• Stat line after deal (2024): 7-2, 90 IP, 3.00 ERA, 105 K, 1.111 WHIP

<!–>

---

---

–>

Link to Original Article - on Fox Sports

<!–>

Juan Soto is remaining in New York, but he’s switching boroughs. 

The superstar outfielder has agreed to a 15-year, $765 million contract with the New York Mets, the New York Post reported Sunday. The contract is the largest in total value in MLB history, surpassing the 10-year, $700 million pact Shohei Ohtani signed to join the Los Angeles Dodgers last offseason.

With the deal, the Mets add one of the most talented young hitters in recent memory and will have him for several of his prime seasons. Soto, 26, posted a .288/.419/.569 slashline with 41 homers and 109 RBIs to help the Yankees reach the World Series in his first and only season in The Bronx.

Soto, a four-time All-Star, is already a well-decorated player for his age and has even drawn comparisons to all-time greats like Ted Williams. Although he’s yet to win an MVP award, he finished third in AL MVP voting this past season, marking his fourth top-six MVP finish over the last six seasons. Among active hitters, he ranks 20th in career batting average (.285), first in on-base percentage (.421), fourth in slugging percentage (.532), third in OPS (.953) and 11th in at-bats per home run (16.3). He’s also recorded 201 homers and 934 hits in 936 career games.

Soto’s free agency has been highly anticipated in MLB circles over the last few years. He reportedly turned down a 15-year, $440 million contract extension from the Washington Nationals in 2022, just three seasons after he helped them win a World Series. That contract rejection led the Nationals to trade Soto to the San Diego Padres in July 2022. Soto and the Padres reached the NLCS later that season, but San Diego traded him to New York after the team had a disappointing year in 2023.

Even as the Yankees made their run to the World Series this past season, Soto’s free agency continued to dominate headlines. By the time the offseason began, only a handful of teams met and extended him an offer as he was projected to sign a contract worth at least $600 million. 

The process to sign Soto moved relatively quickly after teams met with him and his agent, Scott Boras, at his agent’s office in Southern California in November. At that point, it was expected that Soto would sign a deal by the end of the winter meetings, serving as one of the first major dominoes to fall this offseason. 

[Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily.]

–>

---

---

Link to Original Article - on Fox Sports

<!–>

Dave Parker and Dick Allen were elected to baseball’s Hall of Fame on Sunday by the classic era committee.

Parker received 14 of 16 votes and Allen got 13. A vote of 75% or more was needed for election.

They will be inducted into the Hall of Fame on July 27 along with players voted in by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America, whose balloting will be announced on Jan. 21.

Tommy John was third with seven votes on a committee that considered candidates whose primary impact was before 1980. Ken Boyer, John Donaldson, Steve Garvey, Vic Harris and Luis Tiant each received less than five votes.

Parker, 73, hit .290 with 339 homers and 1,493 RBIs for Pittsburgh (1973-83), Cincinnati (1984-87), Oakland (1988-89), Milwaukee (1990), California (1991) and Toronto (1991).

He won World Series titles in 1979 and ’89, was the 1978 NL MVP, won the 1977 and ’78 NL batting titles and was a seven-time All-Star and three-time Gold Glove right fielder.

Allen, who died in 2020 at age 78, hit .292 with 351 homers and 1,119 RBIs from 1963-77 for Philadelphia (1963-69, 1975-76), St. Louis (1970), the Los Angeles Dodgers (1971), Chicago White Sox (1972-74) and Oakland (1977).

Known as Richie Allen with the Phillies before asking to be referred to as Dick for the rest of his career, Allen was a seven-time All-Star who was voted the 1964 NL Rookie of the Year and the 1972 AL MVP.

Ichiro Suzuki, CC Sabathia and Félix Hernández are among the 14 players eligible for the BBWAA ballot for the first time in the upcoming vote. Holdovers include Billy Wagner, who was five votes shy last January.

Parker never got more 24.5% during 15 appearances on the BBWAA ballot from 1997-2011. He was on fewer than six ballots from the 2013 expansion era committee and was on seven from the 2019 modern era committee, which considered candidates from 1970-87.

Allen received a high of 18.9% on the BBWAA ballot from 1983-97, then fell short in a series of committee votes.

Reporting by The Associated Press.

[Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily.]

–>

---

---

Link to Original Article - on Fox Sports