Superstar outfielder Juan Soto and the New York Mets have agreed to a 15-year, $765 million contract, sources told ESPN’s Jeff Passan, the largest contract in professional sports history.

According to sources, the deal does not include any deferred funds and has escalators that could reach over $800 million.

Soto declined a one-year, $21.05 million qualifying offer from the New York Yankees on November 19.

The two most sought-after free agents of this century were Alex Rodríguez, an elite 25-year-old shortstop in 2000, and Shohei Ohtani, a game-changing two-way machine last winter. Despite being a below-average cornerback outfielder, Soto ranks third on the list: organizations decided his hitting ability was so valuable at his age.

The 2024 season was one of Soto’s best. He hit .288/.419/.569 for the Yankees, hitting a career-high 41 home runs and batting in a career-high 128 runs. He finished second in the majors in on-base percentage to teammate Aaron Judge, fourth in slugging, third in OPS, third in wRC+ and fourth in FWAR.

Soto turned 26 on October 25, the day of Game 1 of the World Series. He is already a four-time All-Star, four-time Silver Slugger, batting champion, Home Run Derby champion and World Series champion. His career on-base percentage of .421 is the highest in baseball since his debut with the Washington Nationals in 2018. His slugging percentage of .532 is seventh. His .953 OPS and 158 wRC+ are fourth. His 201 home runs are ninth.

His 769 career walks are the most ever by a player in his age-25 season – 99 more than Mickey Mantle, who ranks second on the list. Since breaking into the majors as a teenager, he has been a metronome, putting together one elite season after another.

Soto finished the 2024 season by going 5-for-16 in the World Series with one home run and seven walks in the five-game loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers. From start to finish, he was worth the investment the Yankees made last December when they sent five players to the San Diego Padres for him and fellow outfielder Trent Grisham before paying him $31 million.

ESPN’s Jorge Castillo contributed to this report.