Wow! This is amazing. It’s very early but I read a report that the Yankees offered $760 over 16 years so not much different and he chose the Mets. I really thought that the Mets would have to significantly outbid the Yankees, but that doesn’t seem to be the case. Of course maybe they weren’t offering the upfront bonus or maybe they had deferred money. The $75m bonus may make it more likely for him to opt out since it sounds like it could be partially front loaded, but we’ll worry about that in 5 years.
As I noted in a previous post, I no longer cared what they might have to pay to land Soto because it’s other peoples money. If Steve Cohen wants to spend millions and millions more on the luxury tax, god bless him. Now they need one more home run bat and if people think Vientos will be enough, remember that Alvarez went from 25 to 11. Lindor, Nimmo, Soto, Vientos, Alvarez might just equal 150 home runs. Now add in Alonso - boy the runs they will score. Might as well trade for Crochet and Roberts from the Chisox to solidly this team. Can’t wait for their next big move!!
We don't know how the contract breaks down. But at just a straight average it works out to $51 million per year. So the Mets are potentially getting Soto in 2025 for fewer dollars than they paid Scherzer and Verlander not to pitch for them last year.
Source: Mets can void Soto’s opt-out after five years by by escalating his average annual average value from $51M to $55M over the last 10 years. On it:
I’m glad brother Steve is listening to me. Pay the man, get it done, and get back to business. I’m sure part of this was showing him a plan to get to the World Series. And that begins with adding a front line starter this team lacks and backing Soto with some protection. So I’d sign Pete to fill that role. It can’t be Vientos. So roll up the sleeves crack open the checkbook and get back to work.
Just for some perspective. If Soto generates 1M$ per game more in gate, merch, and other revenue lines, which seems easy to imagine, in 5 years alone that value exceeds 800M$
Im saying if he does in combine merch gate and other revenue streams you get there. So give it 10 years if you dont like 5, but the fact is Im certain Soto as a draw pays for most if not all of this contract.
There's no doubt that - especially in the first couple of years - that Soto will be a tremendous positive on the bottom line. I don't believe it's anywhere close to a million per game, even in the first few years.
But the Mets don't really need it to be, either. Like I said to Steven earlier, depending how the signing bonus plays out, the Mets get Soto for less than what they paid the old guys not to pitch for them last year. The following year, no longer having to pay Marte, Soto's contract is essentially at Lindor's rate.
Besides, there's nothing wrong with paying market rate for a player in his prime.
My hope is that Soto is as good or better as he was in 2024 for the next five years. Then he can opt out and the Mets can look to spend that money on the next young superstar and get his prime, too.
His salary was dictated by the marketplace. There were at least three franchises that could have afforded his salary and made money with this expenditure, and probably a few others more. This signing definitely improves the Mets but they are still work to do with the roster. At the least, they have to obtain a first baseman or a third baseman. They also have to obtain a front line pitcher that can pitch 170 innings. It was a good signing.
I think this signing is just mind bending. It also says to FAs and prospects (Im looking right at you Sasaki) the Mets are a destination for real. Not only is Soto a baseball superstar, but he’s an astronomical star with massive gravity that will immediately signal is safe to be a Met long term. Sure, Lindor definitely did that and now with Soto its just makes the Mets a real end point to go to, not a safe layover. The Mets have arguably one of the best owners in the sport, in the biggest market, with a young+accomplished+serious Mets-fan PBO, with what looks like a terrific manager, a world class pitching lab stolen directly from DriveLine, a premier stadium, and having just bitch-slapped the Yankees to the Tappanzee Bridge. The Madoff Coupon era was officially just assassinated. Thank you Steve and Alex Cohen.
It is stunning as a Met fan for sure. There are many levels to this which will be interesting to understand, debate, etc. I’d really love to know the exact delta between the Met and Yankee offers. Evidently there were 4 teams over $700 million, so the value calculation was not completely unique to the Mets. As Chris and others pointed out, this is a brand purchase as much or more than a player purchase. The player is elite for sure, and for cap purchases the AAV is salary, but this deal is more like Cohen paid another $400 million for the team and $350 million for Doto’s services. My only lament is that the cost for me and my family to go to Citifield just went up by a lot.
Of course. Its a whole new look around my office now. I have a picture of a smiling Joan Payson behind the Mayor's desk now. We're also making some other changes, like our village has been re-named from Panic City to Winners Town.
Money for this offseason should no longer be a factor as the idea of going below the $241 cap isn't really possible. The offseason will be dictated by the Mets next few moves. I think they need a high ceiling starting pitcher (I'd like that to be Beiber), two hitters (3rd base, CF and DH are the areas they'd target which makes Cody Belinger an option) and relievers. The Mets have a fieldable team as it is but it's hard for me to say on paper that their team is on par with the Los Angeles Dodgers or even the best team in the NL East (at least not for sure).
That exactly what I was thinking when you had the 241M$ cap roster. I think this will be in the vicinity of 300M$, and not a shred of concern for lux tax. This cant be it and so I really believe there is 1-2 arms and Pete.
I think Marte can be a platoon DH. Im fine with Vientos at 3B. I dont get the feeling that CF is in the mix, but maybe?
I agree, this may get the Mets to the Braves, but I dont think the Phillies. There is more work to do.
Cohen really enjoyed the sweet taste of champagne in the locker room. He's gunning for more.
Bieber is going back to Cleveland - happened a couple of days ago. But Buehler would work. As would Manaea, or Sasaki, or even Eovaldi. Reports are that Mets are also in on Burnes and Bregman.
My opinion was that as soon as they beat the Phillies that any thoughts of getting below $241 went out the window.
The question was if they could get under the draft pick penalty. And with the Soto signing, that's out the window, too.
They're going to spend more. A SP, 1B/3B and at least one RP. And then some more on the margins, too. My guess is that while they'll look to add good players, they're not going 7 years on either Alonso or Burnes.
I've come around on Burnes a bit. 7 years for Burnes or 4 years for Manaea - both contracts would go to age 38 (or so). Burnes is the classic ace bulldog at the top. But the huge mystery is how good do the mets view their chances at landing Sasaki. And how much are they willing to risk in terms of losing out on other potential fits to find out?
Agreed.no one is taking on the Arenado contract, and certainly the Mets should not take or the Goldschmidt contracts on. It’s World Series or bust and I can’t see see bringing on aging doorstops after shelling out 765M for Soto.
If the Mets draw an additional 10K fans per game at an average of $100 per attendee, taking into account the ticket, overpriced concession food, and some random swag, that translates to $1 million per game or S81 million over the course of all the home games. We have not even spoken about Soto jersey/t-shirt sales. Seems the more competitive they are, the more money they can make to pay these absurd salaries. If Uncle Steve is not concerned with the dollars, neither should we. Let's just bring home a title and continue to develop the kids down on the farm so they are ready in the next few years to step up and step in.
That’s what I’m was trying to articulate above. This contract will be self paying. yes, yes, it may drop the draft pick down or whatever, but thats just peanuts now. Cohen cannot be done with this move, and it’s not going to be renovation projects etc. Hes got a new window to to capture 1-2 WS with Soto in his prime. Now you finish this work properly. you dont buy a mansion and fill it with Rooms to Go furniture. Git r dun Stearns.
But you cannot attribute all of next year's increase in ticket sales to Soto. Attendance was going up because it always goes up in the year after a strong playoff run. And the Mets went further than they had in nearly a decade and made the playoffs for only the second time in the last eight years and went two rounds further. Attendance was going up, regardless, as it almost always does the following year. When the Mets won it all in 1969, their attendance went up over 6,000 per game in 1970. When the D'Backs made it to the World Series in 2023, their attendance in 2024 went up over 4.000 per game.
Amazing news. Great job, Brian. Thank you for posting so quickly.
Wow! This is amazing. It’s very early but I read a report that the Yankees offered $760 over 16 years so not much different and he chose the Mets. I really thought that the Mets would have to significantly outbid the Yankees, but that doesn’t seem to be the case. Of course maybe they weren’t offering the upfront bonus or maybe they had deferred money. The $75m bonus may make it more likely for him to opt out since it sounds like it could be partially front loaded, but we’ll worry about that in 5 years.
Great day for the Mets!
Yes, it will be interesting to see the final details.
It doesn't concern me one bit if he opts out. If we get him for his prime and don't have to pay for his decline, well, that sounds ideal.
As I noted in a previous post, I no longer cared what they might have to pay to land Soto because it’s other peoples money. If Steve Cohen wants to spend millions and millions more on the luxury tax, god bless him. Now they need one more home run bat and if people think Vientos will be enough, remember that Alvarez went from 25 to 11. Lindor, Nimmo, Soto, Vientos, Alvarez might just equal 150 home runs. Now add in Alonso - boy the runs they will score. Might as well trade for Crochet and Roberts from the Chisox to solidly this team. Can’t wait for their next big move!!
We don't know how the contract breaks down. But at just a straight average it works out to $51 million per year. So the Mets are potentially getting Soto in 2025 for fewer dollars than they paid Scherzer and Verlander not to pitch for them last year.
A monumental day in Mets history. Truly amazing.
According to Ken Rosenthal
Source: Mets can void Soto’s opt-out after five years by by escalating his average annual average value from $51M to $55M over the last 10 years. On it:
@jorgecastillo
.
I’m glad brother Steve is listening to me. Pay the man, get it done, and get back to business. I’m sure part of this was showing him a plan to get to the World Series. And that begins with adding a front line starter this team lacks and backing Soto with some protection. So I’d sign Pete to fill that role. It can’t be Vientos. So roll up the sleeves crack open the checkbook and get back to work.
Just for some perspective. If Soto generates 1M$ per game more in gate, merch, and other revenue lines, which seems easy to imagine, in 5 years alone that value exceeds 800M$
Are you saying that Soto will increase revenue by a million per home game over a 5-year period?!?!?!? That doesn't seem easy to imagine for me at all.
Im saying if he does in combine merch gate and other revenue streams you get there. So give it 10 years if you dont like 5, but the fact is Im certain Soto as a draw pays for most if not all of this contract.
There's no doubt that - especially in the first couple of years - that Soto will be a tremendous positive on the bottom line. I don't believe it's anywhere close to a million per game, even in the first few years.
But the Mets don't really need it to be, either. Like I said to Steven earlier, depending how the signing bonus plays out, the Mets get Soto for less than what they paid the old guys not to pitch for them last year. The following year, no longer having to pay Marte, Soto's contract is essentially at Lindor's rate.
Besides, there's nothing wrong with paying market rate for a player in his prime.
My hope is that Soto is as good or better as he was in 2024 for the next five years. Then he can opt out and the Mets can look to spend that money on the next young superstar and get his prime, too.
His salary was dictated by the marketplace. There were at least three franchises that could have afforded his salary and made money with this expenditure, and probably a few others more. This signing definitely improves the Mets but they are still work to do with the roster. At the least, they have to obtain a first baseman or a third baseman. They also have to obtain a front line pitcher that can pitch 170 innings. It was a good signing.
The article by Jeff Passan here on ESPN is tremendous.
https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/42774498/mlb-free-agency-2024-2025-juan-soto-signs-record-contract-new-york-mets-passan
I think this signing is just mind bending. It also says to FAs and prospects (Im looking right at you Sasaki) the Mets are a destination for real. Not only is Soto a baseball superstar, but he’s an astronomical star with massive gravity that will immediately signal is safe to be a Met long term. Sure, Lindor definitely did that and now with Soto its just makes the Mets a real end point to go to, not a safe layover. The Mets have arguably one of the best owners in the sport, in the biggest market, with a young+accomplished+serious Mets-fan PBO, with what looks like a terrific manager, a world class pitching lab stolen directly from DriveLine, a premier stadium, and having just bitch-slapped the Yankees to the Tappanzee Bridge. The Madoff Coupon era was officially just assassinated. Thank you Steve and Alex Cohen.
It is stunning as a Met fan for sure. There are many levels to this which will be interesting to understand, debate, etc. I’d really love to know the exact delta between the Met and Yankee offers. Evidently there were 4 teams over $700 million, so the value calculation was not completely unique to the Mets. As Chris and others pointed out, this is a brand purchase as much or more than a player purchase. The player is elite for sure, and for cap purchases the AAV is salary, but this deal is more like Cohen paid another $400 million for the team and $350 million for Doto’s services. My only lament is that the cost for me and my family to go to Citifield just went up by a lot.
According to what I hear, the difference was 16/760, and Soto said that the Mets are likely to be a more exciting/better team going forward.
The Mets beat the Yankees head to head, and Soto *chose* the Mets.
Thank you Mr. Mayor, your excellency!
Of course. Its a whole new look around my office now. I have a picture of a smiling Joan Payson behind the Mayor's desk now. We're also making some other changes, like our village has been re-named from Panic City to Winners Town.
Money for this offseason should no longer be a factor as the idea of going below the $241 cap isn't really possible. The offseason will be dictated by the Mets next few moves. I think they need a high ceiling starting pitcher (I'd like that to be Beiber), two hitters (3rd base, CF and DH are the areas they'd target which makes Cody Belinger an option) and relievers. The Mets have a fieldable team as it is but it's hard for me to say on paper that their team is on par with the Los Angeles Dodgers or even the best team in the NL East (at least not for sure).
That exactly what I was thinking when you had the 241M$ cap roster. I think this will be in the vicinity of 300M$, and not a shred of concern for lux tax. This cant be it and so I really believe there is 1-2 arms and Pete.
I think Marte can be a platoon DH. Im fine with Vientos at 3B. I dont get the feeling that CF is in the mix, but maybe?
I agree, this may get the Mets to the Braves, but I dont think the Phillies. There is more work to do.
Cohen really enjoyed the sweet taste of champagne in the locker room. He's gunning for more.
Bieber is going back to Cleveland - happened a couple of days ago. But Buehler would work. As would Manaea, or Sasaki, or even Eovaldi. Reports are that Mets are also in on Burnes and Bregman.
Missed that. I was away.
My opinion was that as soon as they beat the Phillies that any thoughts of getting below $241 went out the window.
The question was if they could get under the draft pick penalty. And with the Soto signing, that's out the window, too.
They're going to spend more. A SP, 1B/3B and at least one RP. And then some more on the margins, too. My guess is that while they'll look to add good players, they're not going 7 years on either Alonso or Burnes.
I've come around on Burnes a bit. 7 years for Burnes or 4 years for Manaea - both contracts would go to age 38 (or so). Burnes is the classic ace bulldog at the top. But the huge mystery is how good do the mets view their chances at landing Sasaki. And how much are they willing to risk in terms of losing out on other potential fits to find out?
I agree. I will surprise if anyone else will be a long term signing.
Goldschmidt is a possibility.
Trade of Luis Castillo for SP at a reasonable 3/$74m for Baty and McNeil. Or signed Manaea or Flaherty.
The Cardinals want dump Anenado .He cost the Mets a reasonably 3/$74m. Unlikely but it is a possibility.
My guess is that the Cardinals are going to have to eat a lot of that salary if they hope to move Arenado.
Agreed.no one is taking on the Arenado contract, and certainly the Mets should not take or the Goldschmidt contracts on. It’s World Series or bust and I can’t see see bringing on aging doorstops after shelling out 765M for Soto.
I am really interested to see what else the Mets can pull off this week.
in case you all are wondering, that about $70,000 per PA per year at about 700 PA/yr
If the Mets draw an additional 10K fans per game at an average of $100 per attendee, taking into account the ticket, overpriced concession food, and some random swag, that translates to $1 million per game or S81 million over the course of all the home games. We have not even spoken about Soto jersey/t-shirt sales. Seems the more competitive they are, the more money they can make to pay these absurd salaries. If Uncle Steve is not concerned with the dollars, neither should we. Let's just bring home a title and continue to develop the kids down on the farm so they are ready in the next few years to step up and step in.
That’s what I’m was trying to articulate above. This contract will be self paying. yes, yes, it may drop the draft pick down or whatever, but thats just peanuts now. Cohen cannot be done with this move, and it’s not going to be renovation projects etc. Hes got a new window to to capture 1-2 WS with Soto in his prime. Now you finish this work properly. you dont buy a mansion and fill it with Rooms to Go furniture. Git r dun Stearns.
But you cannot attribute all of next year's increase in ticket sales to Soto. Attendance was going up because it always goes up in the year after a strong playoff run. And the Mets went further than they had in nearly a decade and made the playoffs for only the second time in the last eight years and went two rounds further. Attendance was going up, regardless, as it almost always does the following year. When the Mets won it all in 1969, their attendance went up over 6,000 per game in 1970. When the D'Backs made it to the World Series in 2023, their attendance in 2024 went up over 4.000 per game.
Fun trivia question for the M369 gang.
Our 2 WS MVPs were Clendenon (‘69) and Ray Knight (‘86).
What do Donn, Ray, and Juan Soto have in common?
They all played on other teams before becoming Mets.