You’d think that Shohei Ohtani—the global face of baseball, a one-man dynasty adored by fans from Japan to the U.S. alike—would be the undisputed “king” of the sport, paid the most by both his team and through sponsorships. But while that might have been true last season, this year the jungle seems to have a new ruler—Juan Soto.

In a jaw-dropping deal in December, the Mets signed Soto to a 15-year, $765 million contract — the largest in sports history. Yes, this deal even surpasses Ohtani’s record-breaking contract last year. For this season alone, Soto will take $61.88 million, making him the highest-paid player in baseball. And here is the kicker—no deferred money.

Plus, add in a $75 million signing bonus and an opt-out after five years, and this is a financial power move. Hector Gomez

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