Histories are meant to be made and broken, be it the OPS, homers, or the $765 million contract. Yes, the most talked-about deal might get surpassed. Even before the dust had settled on the Juan Soto singing, another whisper is gushing from an MLB exec’s office: Who’s poised to surpass this massive contract!
Just when everyone thought it would be impossible to reach Soto’s mark, now, it seems, this won’t even go for years. MLB’s financial outlook is changing, and so are the player portfolios. First, it was Ohtani’s lucrative $700 million contract, then it was Soto’s, and who can forget Guerrero Jr.’s $500 million contract! More triple-digit deals are making their way. And as per an MLB insider, some might even outshine Soto’s contract value, or at least come very close!
And you know the ones that are predicted to crack this amount are currently valued even below $ 1 million! Yes, imagine going from $1M to, maybe, $500 M or $600 M or even more!
From the ESPN writing counter, Jeff Passan predicted that two young phenoms — Elly De La Cruz and Gunnar Henderson — would be in the lead to sign a monumental deal. As of now, Henderson is playing for the Baltimore Orioles, and Elly De La Cruz is with the Cincinnati Reds. And well, their performance stats say why Passan thought the same!
Elly De La Cruz: The Reds’ electric dynamo
With his unmatched mix of speed, power, and personality, Elly De La Cruz is an amazing shortstop for the Cincinnati Reds. He is just 23 years old and has impressed analysts since he stepped up on the ground. Passan predicted that he might get a contract of $500 million. Did you know his current contract? He is under a 1-year deal with the Reds of $8,00,000.
Imagine going from $8,00,000 to $ 500 million. Unbelieveable right? Jeff Passan noticed that “Multiple executives named the Reds star as a potential successor to Soto.”
With that, Passan didn’t sugarcoat his words! He also underscored the difficulties Cruz might face. “Even if he receives a 13-year deal, De La Cruz would need an average salary of nearly $59 million a year to exceed Soto’s contract. Is it possible? Well, sure. De La Cruz is that talented. But he hasn’t produced at an exceptionally high level, hitting .252/.328/.444 for his career.”
Despite that, we cannot ignore that De La Cruz topped the majors with 67 stolen bases in 2024. His amazing accomplishments got him his first All-Star pick and a place on the cover of MLB The Show 25. His 2025 numbers? It’s quite impressive with a batting average of .266 and 5 homers at 143 at-bats.
What about Henderson, then?
Gunnar Henderson: Baltimore’s rising star
Another name often mentioned as a possible future record-breaker is Baltimore Orioles’ Gunnar Henderson. Every CEO named Henderson as the best bet to beat Soto, according to Jeff Passan. Passan expands on the elements supporting Henderson’s possibility: “Henderson was the one player mentioned by every executive as the best bet to beat Soto.”
And he might reach a mark of $600 million! Yes! Just to let you know, his current contract is under $1 million, with a base salary of $782,300.
Passan further mentioned, “Henderson debuted at 21 and will reach free agency after the 2028 season at 27. He plays a far more important position than Soto’s right field, and even if Henderson does eventually move to third base, the positional advantage still will be true. In his two full seasons, Henderson has already put up more than 15 WAR, including a nine-win showing last year that was better than any year Soto ever posted. Even then, Henderson needs more years of consistent quality before he can be looking at $600 million, let alone $765 million.”
The 23-year-old Henderson has rapidly become a cornerstone for the Orioles. For his age, he has shown amazing maturity and ability, winning honors like the American League Rookie of the Year. Even though young, his talent speaks experience on the field. Starting the year on the IL, he is batting .260 in 104 at-bats with three home runs.
So, as baseball earnings and player pay rise, a contract topping Juan Soto’s mammoth deal becomes more likely. While a record-breaking deal is difficult to achieve, Elly De La Cruz and Gunnar Henderson have the talent, youth, and marketability to do so. These young talents are altering the game, and their contracts could change professional sports. Now, the baseball world awaits to see who will be the next! Do you have any speculations?
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