Why did Juan Soto sign with the Mets over Yankees? Difference in contract offers likely played role in decision

Juan Soto is making a move across New York. 

After an excellent 2024 season with the Yankees in which he helped lead the team to the AL pennant, Soto is signing a 15-year, $765 million deal with the Mets, per ESPN’s Jeff Passan. It’s the largest deal in the history of professional sports. 

Just one year after Shohei Ohtani made history in his massive deal with the Dodgers, Soto’s free agency became a bidding war between some of baseball’s top big-market teams. 

Why did Soto choose the Mets over a return to the Yankees? Here’s what to know about the outfielder’s huge decision to remain in New York, albeit with a another franchise. 

MORE: Full details of Juan Soto’s contract with Mets

Why did Juan Soto sign with the Mets over the Yankees?

With location clearly not a factor in the choice between the Mets and Yankees, Soto’s decision likely came down to money. 

As one of the most talented players to ever hit the open market at just 26 years old, Soto’s price was always going to be sky-high. Only a select amount of teams would be able to afford him, and by the time the bidding war started, it seemed to come down to a group of teams that included the Mets, Yankees, Red Sox, and Blue Jays. 

Per Passan, the Mets’ deal with Soto can reach up to a whopping $800 million with escalators. It also includes no deferred money and an opt-out after Year 5.  

The fact that the Mets’ contract can reach $800 million could have played a significant role in Soto’s decision, as the New York Post’s Jon Heyman reported that the Yankees’ bid was for 16 years, $760 million. Based on those numbers, the Mets’ final offer was worth $5 million more in one fewer year, with the capability to reach an even larger number with escalators. 

Ultimately, Soto’s free agency seemed to become a record-breaking bidding war between New York’s two famed clubs. The Mets’ final offer reportedly topped the Yankees’, and the star outfielder will soon be making his way to Queens. 

Juan Soto stats

Soto will provide a superstar bat to the Mets’ lineup for years to come, and they’ll pair him with 2024 NL MVP runner-up Fransisco Lindor. 

Here’s a look at how Soto’s performed at the plate throughout his career.

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