All eyes are on Juan Soto as the 26-year-old outfielder stands at a crossroads in his MLB career. The question remains: will he remain with the New York Yankees, or will he be tempted to join a new team for the fourth time in his career? Whichever team secures Soto will be getting a generational talent entering the peak of his playing years. In his seven seasons, Soto has been named an All-Star four times, won five Silver Slugger Awards, a batting title, a Home Run Derby championship, and a 2019 World Series with the Washington Nationals. His contributions were vital to the Yankees’ reaching the Fall Classic for the first time since 2009.
Most recently, Soto was named a finalist for the American League MVP after a remarkable 2024 season where he posted a .288/.419/.569 slash line, with 41 home runs, 31 doubles, 109 RBIs, and 128 runs scored over 713 plate appearances. His partnership with Aaron Judge helped elevate the Yankees’ lineup to new heights. But the big question remains: can they persuade Soto to make the Bronx his permanent home for the foreseeable future?
Bleacher Report’s Kerry Miller predicts that Soto will indeed stay with the Yankees, signing a massive 13-year, $569 million deal. “Contract projections for Soto have skyrocketed recently, with some estimating he could land a deal worth over $700 million,” Miller notes. “But most credible sources suggest a more realistic deal in the $41-$44 million annual value range for a term of more than 10 but fewer than 15 years. A $43.77 million average annual value for 13 years could be the sweet spot.”
This potential deal would secure Soto as one of the highest-paid athletes in sports, further solidifying the Yankees as World Series contenders for the next decade.
