"NEW YORK -- The news spread like a flash of lightning on the night of Dec. 8. The New York Mets and free agent outfielder Juan Soto had reached an agreement on a jaw-dropping 15-year, $765 million contract that would be the largest in professional sports history once signed. That's larger than any deal global superstars such as Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo or LeBron James have ever inked with any of their teams."
"The Mets made the deal official three days later and introduced their new left-handed bat the next day at a packed news conference. They stressed to reporters their ambitious plan of building a dynasty and, equally important, earning the attention of fans in a city where their powerful neighbors, the New York Yankees, dominate the headlines."
"For Hispanic Heritage Month, the 26-year-old Soto, his parents and those closest to him sat down with ESPN to discuss their role in helping the slugger cash in at such a historic level. "A lot of people can think that I didn't work that hard, that everything came easy and fell from the sky, but behind all this there's a lot of work and effort," Soto told ESPN. "Lots of focus and sacrifices to be where I am today.""
Juan Soto agreed to a 15-year, $765 million contract with the New York Mets, the largest sports contract on record. The Mets publicly introduced Soto at a packed news conference and framed the signing as part of a plan to build a dynasty and attract New York fans amid the Yankees' dominance. Soto arrives after a World Series appearance with the Yankees and surpassed Shohei Ohtani's previous overall-value mark. The deal includes an opt-out after 2029 and a mechanism that could raise the total to $805 million. Soto emphasized hard work, focus, sacrifices and family support; he is 26 and the son of Juan Soto Sr.
Read at ESPN.com
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