On Dec. 9, 2023, Shohei Ohtani announced his intention to sign with the Los Angeles Dodgers in an Instagram post that has since received more than 2 million likes. Multiple reports followed that the Dodgers were signing Ohtani to a record-setting 10-year, $700 million contract. It stood as the largest deal in professional sports history until the New York Mets signed Juan Soto to a 15-year, $765 million contract. Ohtani's contract with the Dodgers was made official on Dec. 11.
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.