The New York Yankees and standout outfielder Juan Soto successfully avoided arbitration by reaching a groundbreaking one-year contract just before the Thursday deadline. Soto’s 2024 season with the Yankees will see him earning $31 million, setting a new record for the highest salary awarded to a player eligible for arbitration in MLB history, as reported by ESPN’s Jeff Passan.
This surpasses the previous record set by Shohei Ohtani last offseason, who secured a $30 million deal before his final season with the Los Angeles Angels.
Juan Soto and the Yankees agree to a deal to avoid arbitration
The one-year, $31.5 million deal is a record for an arbitration eligible player pic.twitter.com/Dny0ms3olr
— Talkin' Yanks (@TalkinYanks) January 12, 2024
Soto, who arrived in New York via a major trade with the San Diego Padres this offseason, is heading into his last year of arbitration. Barring a contract extension with the Yankees, he will become an unrestricted free agent after the 2024 campaign.
In the 2023 season with the Padres, the 25-year-old Soto played in all 162 games, boasting a .930 OPS. He led MLB with an impressive 132 walks, complemented by 35 home runs and 109 RBIs, contributing to another stellar season. Recognizing his exceptional performance, Soto has now earned a historic one-year deal, and he aims to continue delivering top-tier performances as he approaches his contract year before venturing into free agency for the first time in his career.
