(New York) Juan Soto and the New York Yankees have agreed to a one-year, US$31 million contract, breaking Shohei Ohtani’s record for an arbitration-eligible player, The Associated Tells Contact someone familiar with the matter.
The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal has not yet been announced.
The pact was made on the day players and teams were to exchange proposed salary amounts, in preparation for arbitration.
Soto made $23 million last year in his only full season with the San Diego Padres. He will be able to become a free agent after this season.
Soto hit .275 last year, with 35 homers and 109 RBIs.
The Padres obtained him from Washington on August 2, 2022, after he turned down a 15-year, US$440 million offer from the Nationals.
Soto was acquired by the Yankees last month.
Ohtani played last season on a one-year, US$30 million contract with the Los Angeles Angels, a deal completed in October 2022.
He became a free agent and signed a record $700 million, 10-year contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers last month.
A source also confided that the Yankees reached a deal worth US$37 million for two years with Marcus Stroman.
The right-hander who grew up on Long Island played with the New York Mets from 2019-2021.
Aged 32, Stroman has validated the exit option concerning the final year of a contract with the Chicago Cubs.
