Juan Soto, Yankees avoid arbitration with MLB record $31 million contract

Juan Soto and the Yankees avoided arbitration with a one year, $31 million deal, The Post’s Joel Sherman and Jon Heyman reported , setting a new MLB record. The contract is a record for an arbitration eligible player, beating out the $30 million Shohei Ohtani got last year. The contract served as a reminder for how expensive it will be for the Yankees to sign the star outfielder — who they acquired from the Padres this offseason — once, or before, Soto hits free agency following the 2024 season.

Soto, 25, played in all 162 games for the Padres last season, hitting .275 with a .930 OPS. The Yankees then acquired him, along with outfielder Trent Grisham, in December in exchange for Michael King, Kyle Higashioka, Drew Thorpe, Jhony Brito and Randy Vasquez..