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Juan Soto Cashes in on Historic $765 Million Mets Deal, Changing the Game for New York

NNPA NEWSWIRE — His new contract dwarfs the $700 million deal signed by Shohei Ohtani last year, which included significant deferrals that reduced its present-day value.

Published

6 months ago

December 9, 2024

Oakland Post

By Stacy M. Brown
NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent
@StacyBrownMedia

Former Washington Nationals phenom Juan Soto bet on himself — and won big. The superstar outfielder signed a 15-year, $765 million contract with the New York Mets, making it the largest deal in professional sports history. The contract includes a $75 million signing bonus and no deferred payments, unlike previous offers he received from the Nationals. With opt-out clauses starting after year five, the Mets can keep Soto in Queens by increasing their salary by $4 million annually, potentially pushing the deal beyond $800 million. Soto’s decision comes after he turned down a 15-year, $440 million extension from the Nationals in 2022, a gamble that has now paid off handsomely. His new contract dwarfs the $700 million deal signed by Shohei Ohtani last year, which included significant deferrals that reduced its present-day value.

Despite the staggering headline number, taxes and fees will significantly reduce Soto’s net earnings. Federal taxes at 37%, combined with New York’s state and city taxes totaling nearly 15%, will take a major chunk of the contract. According to the Black Press USA’s unofficial calculation, adding the 5% agent fee for Scott Boras, Soto will net around $350.5 million — still a massive figure. At just 26, Soto’s resume speaks for itself: a World Series champion at 20, four-time All-Star, four-time Silver Slugger, and one of the game’s most disciplined hitters. His career .421 on-base percentage leads all active players since his debut, and his .953 OPS places him among the game’s elite. With 201 home runs, 592 RBIs, and more than 36 WAR, his combination of power and patience at the plate has drawn comparisons to Barry Bonds.

A Transformative Signing for the Mets

Soto joins a Mets team coming off an unexpected run to the National League Championship Series. His contribution signals a serious push for a championship. Longtime Mets broadcaster Gary Cohen called the signing “the biggest and most important transaction the Mets have ever made.” “The only one even in the same ballpark is the Mike Piazza trade in 1998,” Cohen said on SNY. “The Mets have never dipped this deeply into free agency for a player of this caliber and age. Juan Soto just turned 26. He’s arguably the best hitter in baseball. This changes the conversation around the Mets entirely.” Soto’s presence in the lineup, likely hitting alongside star first baseman Pete Alonso, positions the Mets as immediate favorites in the National League East, regardless of future moves this off-season.

From Teenage Phenom to MLB’s Richest Star

Soto’s journey began as a 19-year-old with the Nationals, where he helped deliver a World Series title in 2019. After declining Washington’s extension offer, he was traded to the Padres in 2022. His standout 2023 season with the Yankees, where he hit .288 with 41 home runs and finished third in AL MVP voting, cemented his status as the off-season’s top free agent. In an era where financial markets dictate player valuations, Soto’s contract reflects his generational talent and the Mets’ ownership’s willingness to invest heavily in a championship future. As his agent, Scott Boras, said, “You cannot base a centurion player’s value on other players. You have to base it on financial markets.”

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#NNPA BlackPress

Black Feminist Movement Mobilizes in Response to National Threats

BLACKPRESSUSA NEWSWIRE — More than 500 Black feminists will convene in New Orleans from June 5 through 7 for what organizers are calling the largest Black feminist gathering in the United States.

Published

2 days ago

May 30, 2025

Stacy M. Brown

By Stacy M. Brown
Black Press USA Senior National Correspondent

More than 500 Black feminists will convene in New Orleans from June 5 through 7 for what organizers are calling the largest Black feminist gathering in the United States. The event, led by the organization Black Feminist Future, is headlined by activist and scholar Angela Y. Davis. Paris Hatcher, executive director of Black Feminist Future, joined Black Press USA’s Let It Be Known to outline the mission and urgency behind the gathering, titled “Get Free.” “This is not just a conference to dress up and have a good time,” Hatcher said. “We’re building power to address the conditions that are putting our lives at risk—whether that’s policing, reproductive injustice, or economic inequality.” Hatcher pointed to issues such as rising evictions among Black families, the rollback of bodily autonomy laws, and the high cost of living as key drivers of the event’s agenda. “Our communities are facing premature death,” she said.

Workshops and plenaries will focus on direct action, policy advocacy, and practical organizing skills. Attendees will participate in training sessions that include how to resist evictions, organize around immigration enforcement, and disrupt systemic policies contributing to poverty and incarceration. “This is about fighting back,” Hatcher said. “We’re not conceding anything.” Hatcher addressed the persistent misconceptions about Black feminism, including the idea that it is a movement against men or families. “Black feminism is not a rejection of men,” she said. “It’s a rejection of patriarchy. Black men must be part of this struggle because patriarchy harms them too.” She also responded to claims that organizing around Black women’s issues weakens broader coalitions. “We don’t live single-issue lives,” Hatcher said. “Our blueprint is one that lifts all Black people.”

The conference will not be streamed virtually, but recaps and updates will be posted daily on Black Feminist Future’s YouTube channel and Instagram account. The event includes performances by Tank and the Bangas and honors longtime activists including Billy Avery, Erica Huggins, and Alexis Pauline Gumbs. When asked how Black feminism helps families, Hatcher said the real threat to family stability is systemic oppression. “If we want to talk about strong Black families, we have to talk about mass incarceration, the income gap, and the systems that tear our families apart,” Hatcher said. “Black feminism gives us the tools to build and sustain healthy families—not just survive but thrive.”

Stacy M. Brown

Posts by Stacy M. Brown

#NNPA BlackPress

Hoover’s Commutation Divides Chicago as State Sentence Remains

BLACKPRESSUSA NEWSWIRE — Hoover was convicted of murder and running a criminal enterprise. Although some supporters describe him as a political prisoner, the legal and public safety concerns associated with his name remain substantial.

Published

3 days ago

May 29, 2025

Stacy M. Brown

By Stacy M. Brown
Black Press USA Senior National Correspondent

The federal sentence for Gangster Disciples founder Larry Hoover has been commuted, but he remains incarcerated under a 200-year state sentence in Illinois. The decision by Donald Trump to reduce Hoover’s federal time has reignited longstanding debates over his legacy and whether rehabilitation or continued punishment is warranted. The commutation drew immediate public attention after music executive Jay Prince and artist Chance the Rapper publicly praised Trump’s decision. “I’m glad that Larry Hoover is home,” said Chance the Rapper. “He was a political prisoner set up by the federal government. He created Chicago Votes, mobilized our people, and was targeted for that.”

But Hoover, the founder of the Gangster Disciples, is not home—not yet. Now in federal custody at the Florence Supermax in Colorado, Hoover was convicted of murder and running a criminal enterprise. Although some supporters describe him as a political prisoner, the legal and public safety concerns associated with his name remain substantial. “There is a divide in the Black community here,” said Chicago journalist Jason Palmer during an appearance on the Let It Be Known morning program. “Some view Hoover as someone who brought structure and leadership. Others remember the violence that came with his organization.” Palmer explained that while Hoover’s gang originally formed for protection, it grew into a criminal network responsible for extensive harm in Chicago. He also noted that Hoover continued to run his organization from state prison using coded messages passed through visitors, prompting his transfer to federal custody.

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, who is widely considered a potential 2028 presidential contender, has not issued a statement. Palmer suggested that silence is strategic. “Releasing Hoover would create enormous political consequences,” Palmer said. “The governor’s in a difficult spot—he either resists pressure from supporters or risks national backlash if he acts.” According to Palmer, Hoover’s federal commutation does not make him a free man. “The federal sentence may be commuted, but he still has a 200-year state sentence,” he said. “And Illinois officials have already made it clear they don’t want to house him in state facilities again. They prefer he remains in federal custody, just somewhere outside of Colorado.”

Palmer also raised concerns about what Hoover’s case could signal for others. “When R. Kelly was convicted federally, state prosecutors in Illinois and Minnesota dropped their charges. If a president can commute federal sentences based on public pressure or celebrity support, others like R. Kelly or Sean Combs could be next,” Palmer said. “Meanwhile, there are thousands of incarcerated people without fame or access to public platforms who will never get that consideration.” “There are people who are not here today because of the violence connected to these organizations,” Palmer said. “That has to be part of this conversation.”

Stacy M. Brown

Posts by Stacy M. Brown

#NNPA BlackPress

WATCH: Five Years After George Floyd: Full Panel Discussion | Tracey’s Keepin’ It Real | Live Podcast Event

Join us as we return to the city where it happened and speak with a voice from the heart of the community – Tracey Williams-Dillard, CEO/Publisher of the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder.

Published

3 days ago

May 28, 2025

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https://youtube.com/watch?v=OsNLWTz6jU0&feature=oembed

May 25, 2020. The world stopped and watched as a life was taken.

But what has happened since?

Join us as we return to the city where it happened and speak with a voice from the heart of the community – Tracey Williams-Dillard, CEO/Publisher of the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder.

She shares reflections, insights, and the story of a community forever changed. What has a year truly meant, and where do we go from here?

This is more than just a date; it’s a moment in history. See what one leader in the Black press has to say about it.

Recorded live at UROC in Minneapolis, this powerful discussion features:

Panelists: