On Sunday night Juan Soto left the hallowed grounds of Yankee Stadium to follow the money to Citi Field, where he would become the highest paid player in major league baseball at $765 million plus extras.

We’ve come a long way since the first free agent: Jim “Catfish” Hunter, who left the Oakland A’s after a contract dispute and joined the New York Yankees for $3.2 million for five years, with a $1 million signing bonus.

The Baseball Hall of Fame reports the bidding war peaked on New Year’s Eve in 1974, when the Yankees announced that they had landed Hunter.

In 1974, $3.2 million was a fortune, just as $765 million is today.

Hunter embraced the Yankees while Soto is walking away.

“To be a Yankee is a thought in everyone’s head and mine,” Hunter said. “Just walking into Yankee Stadium, chills run through you. I believe there was a higher offer, but no matter how much money offered, if you want to be a Yankee, you don’t think about it.”

Soto apparently didn’t get those chills.

“I was probably the first player who broke it open for other players to be paid what they’re worth,” the Hall of Fame quotes Hunter as saying.

Hunter led the Yankees to three consecutive pennants and back-to-back World Series titles in 1977-78.

But how do we gauge what players are worth when they are paid salaries that are beyond comprehension of most of the fans?

For a short time Bryce Harper was the highest paid player in baseball with a 13-year $330 million contract he signed with the Phillies in 2019.

The record was immediately broken by Manny Machado, who signed an 11-year $350,000,000 contract with the San Diego Padres.

The Yankees’ gamble paid off with Catfish Hunter with two World Series titles.

Fast forward to last season when the Los Angeles Dodgers spent the most money ever (before Soto’s contract) to woo Shohei Ohtani.

Ohtani signed for a 10 year, $700 million contract, and deferred $680 million of it.

He hit his way to an MVP award and helped his team reach and win the World Series.

The Phillies and the Padres are still waiting for their titles. Both Harper and Machado led their teams to postseason playoffs but neither team won.

This is all made possible because MLB has no cap in salaries.

One could argue that this is a good thing for the city, and the game of baseball. It fosters competitive salaries and gives the team an edge.

Just in time for Christmas, Soto souvenirs are rolling into stores. A T-shirt or jersey might be all fans can afford.

But the losers here are the smaller market teams who can’t compete and the fans of baseball.

America’s greatest pastime that began with sandlot games in the neighborhood is in danger of becoming out of reach for the average fan, especially a struggling family.

Baseball was a bit more affordable than other sports, with discount tickets and dollar dog nights.

Forget about the cheap seats that country group Alabama sang about.

The few tickets available for opening day at Citi Field range from $117 up to $2,500. Add to that the cost of parking.

Last year the price of a hot dog at Citi Field was $7. This year is anyone’s guess.

Multiply those prices by four for family to attend a game.

High contracts ultimately trickle down to the fans in ticket fees, parking, food and souvenir costs.

Is Soto worth the money we can only dream about? Is anyone? One thing we know for certain is that he is the barometer for other players to get paid more money.

One thing is certain. He will only hold the record as the highest paid player for a short while because the next good player will ask — and receive — more.

And the price will get even higher for fans who want to see their favorite players in person.

MARTA GOUGER | Mgouger@tnonline.com