This offseason, the New York Mets made a major splash by signing All-Star outfielder Juan Soto to the largest contract in American sports history, igniting fresh debate over whether Major League Baseball should implement a salary cap. While the headline-grabbing deal came with an enormous payday, it also included some noteworthy perks.
As part of the agreement, Soto was given a luxury suite at Citi Field and four premium seats to every Mets home game. He also stands to earn bonuses for winning the NL MVP award—$500,000 for winning once, and more for multiple wins. However, some of the rumored contract details turned out to be inaccurate.
According to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, Soto’s contract does not include private jet access or designer clothes for his family, as had been speculated. But one confirmed and personal touch was added to the deal: Soto was guaranteed uniform No. 22 upon joining the team.
That number had previously belonged to infielder Brett Baty, but it was contractually ensured that Soto would take it over. As a gesture of appreciation, Soto gifted Baty a $92,000 Chevy Tahoe—not as a trade, but simply to thank him.
So far, Soto has gotten off to a relatively slow start, with a .279/.404/.442 slash line, 1 home run, and 4 RBIs through his first 12 games—his lowest OPS over the last three years. Still, his jersey ranks among the top sellers in MLB, and the Mets currently boast the eighth-highest attendance in the league.
