Juan Soto will become one of the richest men in baseball history.

That’s not hyperbole either: the Yankees superstar is one of the best sluggers in the game, and given his age and resume, he’ll command a massive contract with any team willing to back Brink’s truck.

Once the 2024 MLB season is completed, the outfielder will officially become a free agent. And the big question among baseball fans will be where Soto lands next should he leave New York.

Last offseason was all about Shohei Ohtani’s free agency. The two-way phenom landed in Los Angeles, signed a record 10-year, $700 million contract, and helped the team win a World Series in his first season in Dodger blue.

If that’s the kind of deal Ohtani can get, what does that mean for Soto this winter? The Sporting News takes a look at what the free agent superstar can achieve this offseason.

FURTHER: The biggest contracts in sports history

Projection of Juan Soto’s contract

Soto may not pass Ohtani’s $70 million AAV in the deal he signed with the Dodgers last season. But in terms of total value, it wouldn’t be surprising if Soto gave that contract a chance.

In the MLB, it is not uncommon to hand out contracts that last more than 10 years. And when there’s a soon-to-be 26-year-old player who could be an MVP contender every year, teams generally try to lock him up for as many seasons as possible.

For Soto, that means his contract will likely be in the 12- to 14-year range. Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. just signed a 14-year contract at the age of 24, Soto’s former teammate, Padres outfielder Fernando Tatis Jr., also signed one of that length at 22 years old. There’s also Phillies star Bryce Harper, who signed a 13-year contract at age 26.

To compare Soto to his former Yankees teammate, Aaron Judge is paid $40 million annually, which came after his MVP season. However, Judge was entering his age-31 season. Given that Soto is considerably younger, it’s entirely possible he gets a deal worth more than his former New York teammate.

A $500 million deal over 12 years would pay Soto $41.7 million per year, but he’ll likely get a bigger deal. There will be numerous contenders for the superstar and, considering the payrolls of interested parties such as the Yankees, Mets and Dodgers, he will be paid a lot of money.

Look for a total value in the mid to high $500 million range.

Juan Soto Statistics