A recent survey of Major League Baseball executives has revealed that Baltimore Orioles shortstop Gunnar Henderson is viewed as the top contender to surpass Juan Soto’s unprecedented 15-year, $765 million contract signed with the New York Mets. This insight was shared during an exercise where MLB insiders evaluated players across various contract tiers for future high-value deals.
Henderson received unanimous support from executives as the leading candidate capable of breaking Soto’s financial record. While other notable young talents such as Bobby Witt Jr., Fernando Tatis Jr., Corbin Carroll, and Jackson Chourio are already secured with long-term contracts, Henderson stands out due to his pristine positional value at shortstop, which analysts believe gives him a critical edge over Soto, who plays right field.
Having debuted at just 21, Henderson is set to reach free agency after the 2028 season at the age of 27. In his first two full seasons, he has accrued over 15 Wins Above Replacement (WAR), featuring a standout nine-win performance last year, which has already surpassed any of Soto’s single-season stats. Despite this promising start, experts insist that Henderson will need to maintain a high level of elite performance over the coming years to realistically aspire to Soto’s blockbuster deal.
Other players highlighted in the survey include Kyle Tucker from the Chicago Cubs, mentioned as a potential $500 million player. While Tucker’s performance has been impressive, uncertainties in the market, including fears of a potential lockout in 2026, could affect his overall contract value.
Additional players recognized for potentially reaching significant financial milestones include Tarik Skubal of the Detroit Tigers and Paul Skenes of the Pittsburgh Pirates, both of whom are well-positioned to command $400 million contracts if they continue their current trajectories. Skubal’s Cy Young-caliber performance could make him baseball’s first $400 million pitcher, while Skenes, at only 22 years old and regarded as a generational pitching prospect, could challenge this mark even further by the time he reaches free agency.
Elly De La Cruz of the Cincinnati Reds is another player mentioned as a theoretical candidate for surpassing Soto’s record, though executives noted that he would require multiple MVP-caliber seasons to be truly considered in that realm.
The discussion surrounding Henderson and these other players highlights the dynamic nature of player contracts in baseball and raises exciting possibilities for the future of the sport. It reflects the potential for young talent to secure generational wealth and reshape the financial landscape of Major League Baseball.