Shohei Ohtani and Juan Soto have the two largest contracts in MLB history, with Ohtani at $700 million and Soto at $765 million. Their teams, the Dodgers and Mets, will face off in a series that highlights their combined player expenditures exceeding $1 billion this season.
Jul 12, 2021; Denver, CO, USA; Washington Nationals right fielder Juan Soto greets Los Angeles Angels designated hitter/starting pitcher Shohei Ohtani during the 2021 MLB Home Run Derby. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani and New York Mets outfielder Juan Soto have the two largest contracts in MLB, and weāll be comparing them ahead of LAās series against the NL East foe.
The Dodgers and the Mets clash for the first time this season beginning Monday at 7:10 p.m. PT, marking the first matchup between teams which combine for a $1.07 billion player expenditure this season.
Los Angeles signed Shohei Ohtani to a 10-year, $700 million contract ahead of 2024, and the Mets signed Soto to a $765 million contract the year after. With their statuses as the only players to land contracts higher than $700 million, itās only natural to compare the two and how theyāve impacted their team since arriving.
Jul 12, 2021; Denver, CO, USA; Washington Nationals right fielder Juan Soto greets Los Angeles Angels designated hitter/starting pitcher Shohei Ohtani during the 2021 MLB Home Run Derby. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
Ohtani clearly has the edge over Soto in this argument, as heās spent two extremely successful seasons with the Dodgers compared to a mildly disappointing Juan Soto season with the Mets.
He has won two MVPās unanimously, as well as the first back-to-back World Series championship in Dodgers history. MLBās only two-way player has also helped the Dodgers strengthen their grip on the NL West, which theyāve dominated for more than a decade.
As a Dodger, Ohtani averages 55.6 home runs and 118.7 RBIs per 162 games, and has posted otherworldly numbers since his move. Heās off to a good start once again this season, as he has five homers and 10 RBIs to go with his .996 OPS through 15 games played.
On top of that, he has returned to pitching as of June 2025 and looks better than ever on the mound. He had a 2.87 ERA through 14 games last season, and hasnāt allowed an earned run through his first two starts of the season in 2026.
Soto had an underwhelming season with the Mets last season, though still managed fantastic numbers despite a rough start. He hit 43 homers and drove in 105 RBIs, leading MLB with 127 walks and the National league with 38 stolen bases.
While he impressed throughout 2025, his team didnāt. The Mets missed out on the playoffs completely after a disastrous second half to the season, and havenāt improved much ion 2026.
They currently sit last in their division, and Soto hasnāt been able to help much over the past week due to a calf issue keeping him sidelined.
In terms of how much worth both teams have gotten from their respective contracts, the Dodgers are the clear winner in this scenario.
Adding a unicorn to their team has propelled them to back-to-back World Series titles, while the Mets have been in limbo for the better part of the last year.
Ohtani also costs less than Soto in general, and is only earning $2 million for the 2026 season.
Which contract do you think will pay off more in the long run?
Shohei Ohtani signed a 10-year, $700 million contract, while Juan Soto's contract is worth $765 million.
The Dodgers and Mets have a combined player expenditure of $1.07 billion this season.
The first matchup between the Dodgers and Mets in 2024 is scheduled for Monday at 7:10 p.m. PT.
Both players are key contributors to their teams, being the only MLB players with contracts over $700 million, significantly influencing their teams' performance.
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