The New York Mets have signed Juan Soto on a 15-year deal worth $765 million. With this new deal, Juan Soto has become the highest-paid athlete in history, as the amount has broken all records set so far. Although $765 million is a massive amount of money, how does it compare to in terms of the highest-paid NBA players, such as Jayson Tatum, Stephen Curry, and Jaylen Brown?
With a slight stretch, one can say that Juan Soto landed an $800 million deal and what is more impressive is his contract even surpasses the amount 22 MLB franchise owners paid for their teams. Besides securing his financial future, is a long-term contract better than the more usual and shorter contracts that basketball players are accustomed to?
Juan Soto’s contract with the Mets isn’t just big — it’s historic. The Dominican star dunked over all previous records with his 15-year, $765 million deal, which could increase to over $800 million if escalator clauses are met. As reported by ESPN’s Jess Passan, “Juan Soto’s 15-year, $765 million deal with the New York Mets includes no deferred money, according to sources, and has escalators that can reach above $800 million.”
The sheer size of the deal becomes even more astonishing when compared to MLB franchise values. A viral statement highlighted that “Juan Soto’s new $765 million contract is worth more than what 22 MLB principal owners paid for their franchises.” This not only reflects Soto’s immense value as a player but also underscores how far the sports salary landscape has evolved.
Also read: Who is Juan Soto and why is he trending?
Boston Celtics’ Jayson Tatum (0) and Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry (30) (Image via AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)
Since NBA contracts are usually shorter than Soto’s long 15-year agreement, athletes can keep their flexibility and optimize their future profits. Stephen Curry, Jayson Tatum, and Jaylen Brown, among other NBA top earners in 2024, have chosen shorter contracts with higher yearly compensation.
With his latest one-year, $63 million contract agreement with the Golden State Warriors, four-time NBA champion Stephen Curry will make $178 million over the following three years. With yearly salaries of $55.8 million, $59.6 million, and $63 million included in this agreement, he is now among the highest-paid athletes in the league.
Jaylen Brown made news when he signed a $304 million, five-year contract that paid him $60.8 million on average annually. However, Jayson Tatum, a colleague of the Boston Celtics, outdid him by securing a five-year, $315 million supermax agreement that ensures him the highest NBA salary of $63 million per year.
On the other hand, Juan Soto’s average yearly compensation of $51 million is insignificant. Even while his contract is rather large, he makes a lot less money annually than Curry, Tatum, or Brown—all of whom have greater negotiating leverage in future contracts.
