Juan Soto Gets Record $31 Million One-Year Deal With Yankees

Paresh Jadhav

11 months ago

New York Yankees outfielder Juan Soto signed a one-year, $31 million contract that broke Shohei Ohtani’s arbitration-eligible player record of $25 Million on Thursday. Eleven teams reached agreements among themselves as players and clubs exchanged salary figures for the first time this season; left-hander Casey Mize of Cleveland and Detroit right-hander Zach Britton remain unresolved however.

Table of Contents

Toggle

Shohei Ohtani Breaks Arbitration Record

Shohei Ohtani stands as one of baseball’s premier two-way players; an outstanding pitcher who also excels as a designated hitter. If he opts out of his current deal next year, Ohtani could earn an extraordinary contract that could see him earn millions annually.

Ohtani continues to set records, including with his record-setting arbitration deal of $30 Million last season and is now the highest earning arbitration-eligible player on a single-year contract.

Juan Soto could surpass Ohtani as one of New York’s marquee acquisitions. According to reports, Soto and the Yankees reached a pre-arbitration agreement for a $31 million contract through 2024 that surpasses his old mark and places Soto in an elite batting club alongside some legendary sluggers like Mark McGwire. Locking up Soto on an extension will likely be their top priority after this season is complete, though they also face arbitration-eligible players such as Gleyber Torres and Alex Verdugo among others.

Juan Soto Breaks Shohei Ohtani’s Record

Juan Soto is off to an impressive start with the Yankees after signing a pre-arbitration deal worth $31 Million, reports ESPN. That deal broke the previous arbitration-eligible player record set by Shohei Ohtani’s $30 Million deal with Angels last season.

The one-year salary offered to Soto may also represent a record one-year figure among players not currently under long-term contracts, reflecting his immense value and setting him up to achieve future success as a free agent contract recipient.

Soto was recently traded to the Yankees along with Trent Grisham and other prospects, after spending his only full season with the Padres hitting.275 with 35 homers and 109 RBIs. At 25-years-old he could become baseball’s next Japanese Babe Ruth by joining Mike Trout, Albert Pujols, Ted Williams and Jimmie Foxx as all-time greats within six seasons of their MLB careers.

Juan Soto Gets Record $31 Million 1-Year Deal With Yankees

Juan Soto and the New York Yankees avoided arbitration with an agreement that will pay him $31 million over one season – an amount which tops what Shohei Ohtani received last offseason – before entering free agency at age 26.

Soto and the Yankees reached an agreement shortly before teams and players were scheduled to exchange arbitration figures at 1 p.m. ET. Ten of 194 arbitration-eligible players agreed on agreements prior to that deadline.

Gleyber Torres ($14.2 Million); newly acquired outfielders Alex Verdugo and Trent Grisham; right-handed pitchers Clay Holmes, Jonathan Loaisiga, Clarke Schmidt; left-handers Nestor Cortes and Victor Gonzalez also reached agreements without hearings – Adolis Garcia from Tampa Bay Rays and Alec Bohm from Cincinnati Reds were two examples who decided on multiyear deals, while Detroit Tigers right-handed pitcher Casey Mize also decided upon one-year deals that included club options.

Juan Soto Gets Record $31 Million 1-Year Deal With Yankees

Juan Soto will begin his Yankees career with an unprecedented salary. On Thursday, the trade acquisition signed a one-year deal worth $31 Million which beat Shohei Ohtani’s previous arbitration-eligible player record.

Soto, who turns 26 this year, earned $23 Million during his only full season with the San Diego Padres last season and could become a free agent after this season ends.

Soto will join a lineup that already features Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton. Soto has already distinguished himself within his generation with an adjusted OPS plus of 157; fifth best all time among age-24 players behind Ty Cobb, Mike Trout, Mickey Mantle and Jimmie Foxx.

Most teams and arbitration-eligible players reached agreements well ahead of the soft 1 p.m. ET cutoff date. Tampa Bay outfielder Harold Ramirez and Milwaukee right-hander Jason Adam, however, who both obtained eligibility a year early, remained undecided as negotiations closed out at 1 pm ET on Wednesday.

To know more about recent developments, visit our Alts news website. Thankyou!