The New York Mets recently agreed to
sign Juan Soto to a 15-year, $765 million contract, by far the most ridiculous
largest contract in major league baseball history.
As of this writing, the Mets have not
confirmed the deal because it is contingent on a pending physical, but sources
say it contains a full no-trade clause, a $75 million signing bonus, a
potential opt-out clause after five seasons-- and no deferred money. In fact,
if certain conditions are met, it could potentially be worth as much as $805
million.
Now I don’t begrudge anyone for making
whatever they can in a free market, but, at some point, one wonders if the
average Joe in flyover country, making 40, 50, 60 grand a year, will start to
sour on these types of contracts—and eventually sports in general. (I was going
to say ‘professional’ sports, but, what with the portal and NIL money in
college athletics today, it may be a distinction without a significant
difference.) Especially as many played baseball in their youth; played hard—and
for free.
And the $765 million doesn’t include
any of the lucrative endorsement deals he’s sure to get. A guy’s got to feed
his family, right? I would bet his contract contains a clause guaranteeing him 20
or 30 ‘maintenance days’ to rest his body…and perhaps a week or two off for
family leave. The more today’s athletes make, the less they are willing to
risk, and the more they are expected to be pampered.
Perspective: the Louisiana Purchase
cost the U.S. $15 million in 1803, the equivalent of about $419 million today.
This means that Soto is going to make, in 15 years, nearly twice what it cost
us to buy 500 million acres of land that is ours in perpetuity…adjusted
for inflation! Land that stretches from the Mississippi River to the Rocky
Mountains and from the Gulf of Mexico to the Canadian border, comprising all or
part of the states of Arkansas, Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana (duh!),
Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma,
South Dakota, Texas, and Wyoming.
At this rate, it will soon require an
expenditure equivalent to the Gross National Product (GNP) of several African
nations to field a competitive ballclub. Or maybe even to solidify your squad’s
infield.
For this kind of money, Soto better be
able to secure our borders, find a cure for the common cold—and perhaps walk
across water when called to do so.
Go Mets!
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