It was a tough day for Atlanta sports: the Falcons suffered a three-touchdown loss, the Hawks fell by 30 points, and the Braves saw outfielder Juan Soto return to the National League East.
Capping off a rough day for Atlanta sports, the New York Mets secured Juan Soto with a record-breaking 15-year, $765 million contract, the largest deal in professional sports history, according to ESPN. The Mets outbid the New York Yankees, who reportedly offered a 16-year, $760 million deal.
Ultimately, 26-year-old Juan Soto will return to the NL East, where he began his MLB career with the Washington Nationals, spending four and a half seasons before being traded to the San Diego Padres during the 2022 season. After a stint with the Padres through 2023, he played the 2024 season with the Yankees.
Soto has been a dominant force against the Braves throughout his career. In 77 games, he boasts a .325 batting average, 19 home runs, 51 RBIs, and 60 runs scored. Now, as a member of the Mets, he’ll face the Braves roughly 13 times each regular season until he’s 41 years old.
Meanwhile, Atlanta could be preparing for its own move. Braves general manager Alex Anthopoulos stated on Sunday that he’s willing to exceed the luxury tax and has spent much of the season working to trim salary cap space.
Regardless, the Mets, who were eliminated in six games in last year’s NLCS, seem primed to be a serious threat to Atlanta’s NL East title aspirations for the foreseeable future.
On an already tough day for Atlanta sports, the Braves may feel the lingering effects of Soto’s return more than any other disappointment the city experienced.
