The biggest storyline of the MLB offseason was regarding superstar Juan Soto. After the San Diego Padres traded him in the 2023 offseason, Soto spent one year with the New York Yankees and was an instrumental part of their run to the World Series. However, Soto decided to enter free agency and listen to other teams. As such, a flurry of teams were interested in Soto.

At the end of it all, Soto signed a 15-year, $765 million deal with the New York Mets, marking the largest-ever deal in professional sports history. As pitchers and catchers reported to spring training, Yankees ace Gerrit Cole was asked about the contract of his former teammate.

“It’s large,” Cole said, per ESPN’s Jorge Castillo. Besides the Mets and Yankees, the Toronto Blue Jays, Boston Red Sox and Los Angeles Dodgers were other teams who had made an offer for Soto. The Yankees had reportedly offered Soto a 16-year deal worth $760 million. Meanwhile, the Mets offer a year less and more money overall while giving him a $75 million signing bonus.

Cole, the Yankees’ best pitcher, knows a thing or two about large contracts himself. Before the 2020 season, Cole signed a nine-year, $324 million deal with the Yankees. Still, Soto’s is above and beyond. Before the Mets-Soto deal, the largest was a 10-year, $700 million deal for Shohei Ohtani with the Dodgers. The Yankees and Mets don’t play each other until May 16 in a three-game series in the Bronx.