Juan Soto is headed across town to the New York Mets — for $765 million!

After weeks of speculation, the superstar outfielder announced his decision on Sunday night, ending his stay in the Bronx after one season.

His 15-year, $765 million contract is now the largest in MLB and American sports history. How does it change the Mets’ outlook for 2025 — and beyond? Where should the New York Yankees and other Soto suitors go from here? And what does the mind-boggling contract mean for baseball? Our experts weigh in on the biggest questions about Soto’s record-setting deal.

$765 million! What do you make of Soto’s record-setting money?

Jorge Castillo: It’s more money than I expected Soto would receive when the season ended. Back then $600 million seemed like the target. But Soto’s combination of age and talent made a huge contract a certainty. And it turns out that when you add a few deep-pocketed, big-market franchises, the price soars. It was a perfect storm for Soto, and he cashed in.

Alden Gonzalez: Keep in mind that the MLBPA values Shohei Ohtani‘s contract at roughly $438 million after the massive deferrals (deferrals he volunteered, it should be noted). That Soto tops him by this much is wild. We’re talking about a player many project will become a DH within the next few years blowing past another who is a two-way phenomenon (not to mention one who generates enormous revenue from Japan). It speaks to the singularity of Soto’s hit tool, the appeal of his age, and the impact of so many big-market teams chasing a Scott Boras client.

Buster Olney: This is the first time Steve Cohen attacked with the bare-knuckled financial power he possesses. Two winters ago, the Mets could’ve used someone like Aaron Judge for their lineup, but perhaps in deference to Hal Steinbrenner (and the other owners who approved Cohen’s purchase of the team), Cohen politely stood by and didn’t bid him up. Maybe it’s because Cohen is now four years into his pursuit of a championship, or maybe it’s because he saw Judge as a homegrown Yankee and Soto being fair game, or maybe because Cohen (and the rest of the baseball world) recognizes that Soto is one of the greatest hitters of all time, but he used the power of his wealth and the Mets landed a generational hitter. And Soto has the most lucrative contract ever, way beyond anything Shohei Ohtani probably dreamed of a year ago.

David Schoenfield: No matter how you slice it, no matter how deep the pockets of Steve Cohen, it’s a mind-numbing total. Look, Soto is a generational hitter; he’s young enough that the risk is lower than that of other players who have signed these super long-term deals. But I’ll repeat what I wrote when I graded this signing: Soto is not Ohtani. Over his three seasons before reaching free agency, Ohtani averaged 9.5 WAR per season; Soto averaged 6.3 WAR over the past three seasons. He’s not the all-around player of Mookie Betts at his best or Mike Trout when healthy or even Bobby Witt Jr. Two things can be true at once: Soto makes the Mets better and they probably overpaid to sign him.

What does it mean for the Mets to land Soto as the face of their franchise for the next 15 years?

Castillo: It means they’re legitimate World Series contenders for years to come. The Mets were one step from a World Series appearance in 2024 — in a year they were projected as a fringe playoff contender. The National League East has belonged to the Atlanta Braves and Philadelphia Phillies in recent years. That might be changing.

Gonzalez: It’s monumental — for what’s to come, but also historically. The Mets have spent their entire existence as New York City’s inferior baseball franchise, perpetually living within the Yankees’ proverbial shadow. That they outbid the Yankees for the player both teams wanted most speaks volumes about who the Mets are under Cohen. That they’re coupling it with the savviness of David Stearns, the front-office exec who built a consistent winner on a much tighter budget in Milwaukee, means the Mets might be a premier franchise for the next decade.

Olney: Even with Soto, the Mets might still be playing catch-up to the Phillies and the Braves in the NL East. But this is a big step forward, with Soto perhaps destined to hit behind Francisco Lindor in the Mets’ lineup, that the team will consistently contend for the franchise’s first title since 1986. The next challenge: build the desperately needed pipeline of pitching, while again relying on short-timers in the big-league rotation.

Schoenfield: I think there is a ton of pressure to go all-in — in a BIG way — for the immediate future. While Soto has been extremely durable, that’s not guaranteed to continue. Just look at what happened to Trout or Ken Griffey Jr. when they hit 30 years of age. The Mets need to build the best team possible, no matter the price, while Soto is still in his 20s and still one of the best hitters in the game.

How can the Mets have a perfect offseason from here?

Castillo: Sign Corbin Burnes, re-sign Pete Alonso, and sign two relievers.

Gonzalez: I agree completely with Jorge here. It’s a pretty clear strategy, even if it is difficult to pull off. Alonso would provide a major presence in the middle of a lineup featuring Soto, Francisco Lindor and Mark Vientos. Burnes would slot in at the top of the rotation alongside Kodai Senga, completely changing the complexion of that group. The Mets don’t want to just be a financial behemoth; they want to continue building a steady pipeline of homegrown talent, much like the Dodgers have. The best way to do that while contending is to spend in free agency. Cohen makes that possible.

Olney: They got the hitter they need, and now they have to land a frontline starter, pulled from the group that includes Corbin Burnes, Max Fried and Garrett Crochet. Executives have long believed that a team that lands a major Scott Boras client has a built-in advantage with his other free agents — and if true, that would be handy, because Burnes is a Boras client. Remember when the Rangers landed Chan Ho Park after signing Alex Rodriguez?

Schoenfield: I’ll co-sign everything here. I think the biggest challenge for Stearns will be the intellectual vs. emotional debate regarding Alonso. The Mets might be a better team signing Alex Bregman or trading for Nolan Arenado to play third base and moving Mark Vientos to first base rather than betting on Alonso with a big contract in his 30s, but it’s also hard to let go of a player who has been such an important part of the franchise.

How surprised are you that Soto chose the Mets over the Yankees given his success in the Bronx?

Castillo: Not very surprised. The Mets were looming as a landing spot all season. Steve Cohen’s willingness to spend whatever it took for Soto made them the Yankees’ strongest competition for Soto. Cohen had the money and the Mets wanted him.

Gonzalez: Very surprised, even though momentum seemed to be pushing that way for several weeks. The Yankees might not have matched the Mets’ bid, but they were close. Their offer was immense, too. They’re the bigger brand, possess a fellow superstar in Aaron Judge and were fresh off providing Soto with a storybook season in an environment he clearly loved playing in. I thought if it were close enough, he’d choose a return to the Bronx. Clearly I was wrong.

Olney: I’m not surprised. We don’t yet know exactly what each team offered, under what kind of structure — but odds are Soto’s offer from the Mets was more significant than what the Yankees dangled. And it was always Soto’s prerogative to take the highest offer, just as Alex Rodriguez did when he signed with the Rangers. But the big difference is that Texas’ payroll was immediately distended by the Rodriguez deal, and three years later, they ate 40% of the money owed to Rodriguez in order to dump the contract. For Cohen, Soto’s annual salary is pocket change.

Schoenfield: Not too surprised. Aside from whatever the final offer from the Yankees was, it’s reasonable to believe that Soto also considered the state of both franchises and liked the Mets’ future better than that of the Yankees — a team that relied so heavily on just Soto and Aaron Judge in 2024. The Mets arguably have more depth, a better farm system and have run higher payrolls in recent seasons.

What does it mean for the Yankees to lose Soto to a crosstown rival?

Castillo: It’s less than ideal for off-field reasons — Mets fans are loving this — but Soto signing with the Mets is better for the Yankees than him going to a division rival. Soto landing in Boston, especially, would have been difficult to swallow. The Subway Series has another storyline, though, and that’s fun.

Gonzalez: It’s deflating, especially since Willy Adames, a potential option at third base, has already signed with the Giants. Yes, the Yankees now have money to spread around to fill their needs at third base, first base, an outfield corner and their pitching staff, and there are still plenty of options available. But nothing will rival the impact of Soto and Judge sharing a lineup for years to come.

Olney: Of course they wanted to retain Soto, and extended themselves in their offers way beyond where anyone thought Hal Steinbrenner would go. The bidding went from aggressive to a little nutty. But Yankees general manager Brian Cashman has never been afraid of this type of situation — and in fact, you wonder if he prefers to keep more flexibility, rather than get locked into a great hitter who will probably be a DH for more than half of his contract. In situations like this, Cashman’s reflex is about pitching. But one way or another, the Yankees desperately need power, and protection around Judge. We talked so often about the protection that Judge provided Soto, but when Soto got on base, he often compelled opposing pitchers to work to Judge, who had his best season ever. Now the lineup around Judge will be very thin.

Schoenfield: It stings, no doubt, but it’s not the end of the world. Given the final dollar amount on Soto’s contract, the Yankees can replace Soto’s value with multiple players, although that’s easy to say and harder to do. Brian Cashman will still have to convince players to come to the Bronx and the Yankees will have to figure out how to add some left-handed production to the lineup without Soto.

How does this move shake up the playoff picture in both leagues for next season?

Castillo: The National League is loaded and the Dodgers remain the team to beat, but the Mets are on the tier below with the Phillies and Braves. The American League is … not as loaded. You figure the Yankees will spend money on other players to remain atop the list of contenders, but Soto going to the Mets means the AL is wide open — at least for now.

Gonzalez: The NL East is fascinating. The Braves aren’t going to be spending big this offseason, but they’ll have Ronald Acuna Jr. and Spencer Strider returning to what remains a loaded roster. The Phillies are still a juggernaut. And now the Mets, who will continue to be aggressive, are squarely with them. Add those three with the Dodgers and Padres, and that’s at least five legitimate championship contenders in the NL.

Olney: The NL East is going to be a monster division. The Phillies are on a World Series tilt, the Braves made the playoffs last year without their best pitcher (Spencer Strider) and the defending MVP, Ronald Acuna Jr., so they should be better. And now the Mets have Soto. Grab your popcorn and have fun watching this, as these teams try to run down the Dodgers. The American League, on the other hand, is wide open, with the Red Sox joining the Astros, Mariners, Rangers, Yankees, Guardians, Tigers, Royals and Orioles in the chase.

Schoenfield: I’m with Jorge. Look, we have a lot of offseason to go, but the top of the National League seems to tower over the top of the American League right now. If anything, it actually puts more pressure on the Phillies, Braves and Padres to keep up with the Dodgers and now the Mets. It will be fascinating to see how the offseason plays out for those teams.