By Sunday 
Yankees Ace Acknowledges the Historic Deal with a Simple but Telling Response
The MLB offseason was dominated by the frenzy surrounding superstar Juan Soto’s free agency. After a brief but impactful stint with the New York Yankees, Soto tested the open market, drawing interest from multiple franchises before inking a groundbreaking 15-year, $765 million contract with the New York Mets—the richest deal in professional sports history.
As spring training kicked off, Yankees ace Gerrit Cole was asked about his former teammate’s staggering contract. His response? Blunt and to the point: “It’s large,” Cole told ESPN’s Jorge Castillo.
A Competitive Bidding War
Soto’s free agency was a high-stakes battle among some of baseball’s biggest spenders. The Yankees, hoping to retain their star outfielder, reportedly offered a 16-year, $760 million contract. However, the Mets’ slightly shorter offer provided a greater overall payout and included a lucrative $75 million signing bonus, sealing the deal.
Other powerhouse teams, including the Toronto Blue Jays, Boston Red Sox, and Los Angeles Dodgers, also entered the mix, but none could outbid the Mets.
Cole Knows Big Contracts—But This One is Unprecedented
While Cole himself is no stranger to massive deals—having signed a nine-year, $324 million contract with the Yankees before the 2020 season—Soto’s deal dwarfs anything that came before it. Even Shohei Ohtani’s landmark 10-year, $700 million contract with the Dodgers now takes a backseat to Soto’s historic payday.
A New York Rivalry Intensifies
With Soto now in Queens, the rivalry between the Yankees and Mets has an added layer of intrigue. Fans won’t have to wait long for a showdown—the two teams are set to meet on May 16, 2025, in a three-game series in the Bronx.
Soto’s contract may have shattered records, but as Cole’s reaction suggests, its magnitude speaks for itself.