Mets predicted to land four-time All-Star with ‘offer too good to turn down’

•

The New York Mets continue to surge past expectations this season, logging an upset win against the Milwaukee Brewers in their first playoff game.

In large part, that success is a testament to owner Steve Cohen’s unrelenting willingness to spend. Coming off of a losing season with Major League Baseball’s largest payroll in 2023, the team reloaded with several veteran free agents, held that leading payroll spot and now could be poised for a deep playoff run.

Looking ahead to 2025, the Mets currently hold MLB’s tenth-largest payroll. But it seems likely that Cohen will seek to move up the rankings by reinforcing the team with even more premier free-agent signings. And, assessing the landscape of players that are likely to be available, it doesn’t get any better than New York Yankees slugger Juan Soto.

Projecting Soto’s next landing spot for Bleacher Report, Erik Beaston noted that Cohen’s spending might make the difference for the Mets.

“While Soto has had a great time with the Yankees and has had the best season of his career, he has turned down a huge contract extension from Washington in the past in pursuit of even more money,” Beaston noted. “If he thinks he can get it from the Mets, or any other team, he will leave the Yankees in the rear-view mirror. Prediction: Mets make Soto an offer too good to turn down.”

What might such an offer look like? Soto is set to command one of the largest contracts in baseball history as a four-time All-Star and four-time Silver Slugger whose career on-base percentage ranks as the best in the big leagues over the last seven seasons.

The Athletic’s Tim Britton put the estimated figure at $560 million over 14 years.

“It’s very likely that Soto will set a new record for total value in a contract, eclipsing Ohtani’s $437.8 million with the Dodgers,” Britton noted. “It’s pretty likely that he sets a new standard for average annual value as well, again breaking past Ohtani.”

The last few seasons demonstrate that Cohen and the Mets are willing to push the upper limits of team payroll to field a team of proven stars. Now, with some money coming off the books just in time to court Soto, they seem to be the most likely destination to outspend any other suitors.

More MLB: Giants’ Posey urged to sign rival shortstop projected for $68 million deal

Peter Chawaga

Peter Chawaga is a veteran journalist covering Major League Baseball for The Sporting News. His MLB reporting has included feature interviews with commissioner Rob Manfred and Hall of Fame slugger David Ortiz, salary analysis, player rankings and more. He has covered baseball for Forbes, Yardbarker, Pitcher List, Athlon and other outlets.

With over ten years of newsroom experience, he has previously covered finance, technology, arts, and culture for newspapers, magazines, and websites nationwide. He graduated from Wake Forest University with a degree in English and journalism.