Juan Soto changed baseball, literally and financially. His 15-year, $765 million contract with the Mets broke the internet. While, around a year ago, Shohei Ohtani’s $700 million deal almost seemed unbreakable, Soto’s $51 million per year has set a new standard. And now, is there a next?
Gunnar Henderson. The 23-year-old Baltimore Orioles player isn’t just another rising ace; he’s already started to prove that he belongs in the elite tier. He smashed 31 home runs in the previous season, putting up a phenomenal .893 OPS, and had 9.1 bWAR. He helped the Orioles reach the playoffs, once again. Good enough for someone who was just named AL Rookie of the Year.
Time and again, Henderson has showcased that he’s capable of handling the pressure. And he’s just getting started!
He has already finished in the top eight of AL MVP voting twice. And aces like him don’t hit free agency that often! Hence, Baltimore has a huge decision to make. Will they lock him in right now, or risk his price reaching heights of limits in a couple of years?
Henderson is under team control till 2028. True, the Orioles can take a breather till then.
But apparently, waiting will get crazy expensive. According to sources, Henderson might be the one player who could eventually match Soto’s $51 million annual salary, particularly if he keeps playing at an MVP level. An estimated extension in the present day would land around 12 years and $375 million, but if there’s a delay, that number will go only up.
While Soto’s contract seems unbreakable, baseball is all about uncertainty. So, don’t be surprised if Henderson is the next young star to break the bank and make Soto’s deal look just a little less impossible.
How the Mets’ chase for Juan Soto started long before his historic free agency
The Mets signing Juan Soto might have felt like a blockbuster surprise, but behind the scenes, this step had been in development for quite a while. David Stearns and Steve Cohen had their eyes on the superstar long before free agency even began.
In The Pursuit, a two-part documentary released by the Mets organization, Stearns mentioned that signing with Juan Soto was a part of the team’s vision for a long time, way before the record-breaking $765 million contract became official. “I think Juan Soto has been on all of our radars for a long time,” Stearns stated.
Steve Cohen backed that up and said that Soto was a hot topic of discussion right from the moment Stearns took over as team president after the 2023 season.
Juan Soto first landed with the Yankees through a trade with the Padres. The Mets were always lurking and prepared to make their move. And it wasn’t just about offering the biggest contract. They did everything they could to woo Soto. They crafted custom videos that showed Citi Field and how perfectly he would settle into the team’s culture. They convinced him to be part of a family.
For the Mets, it was all about creating a team’s identity. Their notable 2024 turnaround, fueled by fellowship and belief, sets the stage for Soto’s entry. With a roster that’s already making headlines, Soto’s presence is the final piece of the puzzle that might take them to new heights.
Think Soto will be able to create the difference he’s expected to?
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