All eyes will be on Juan Soto over the next 13 days. With the annual amateur draft and All-Star Game now in the rearview mirror, what figures to be a frenzied and condensed summer trade market will be up and running. Soto’s recent rejection of a 15-year, $440MM contract extension has already drawn countless headlines, and his reported subsequent availability on the trade market will generate unprecedented intrigue.
Agent Scott Boras addressed Soto’s decision to turn down what would’ve been the largest total guarantee in MLB history this week, first in an interview with James Wagner of the New York Times and then with Joel Sherman and Jon Heyman of the New York Post on their podcast, “The Show.” There were plenty of factors in the decision, but Boras suggested that the average annual value, the potential sale of the franchise and uncertainty about the team’s direction all weighed heavily.
[Related: Looking for a Match in a Juan Soto Trade]
“I don’t think anybody wants to work for someone they don’t know,” Boras told Wagner. “So it’s kind of a ghost contract. We don’t know who’s going to pay it. Consequently, when you’re a player like Juan, you’re a winning player and you want to make sure there’s a lot more things than dollars and cents involved and who you’re going to work for and where you’re going to be for the majority.”
In his appearance with Sherman and Heyman, Boras spoke about the respect Soto has for the Lerner family and the commitment they’ve shown to winning over the years, but the direction of an incoming ownership group can’t be known at this time. Even if a swift return to contention is the goal, the Nationals’ bleak farm system, lack of big league talent on the current roster, and the strong division in which they play all coalesce to make an immediate rebound unlikely. Soto is surely aware of this.
“Juan Soto has a ring on his finger and he has had people that he knows and trusted ever since his inception with the franchise, but now that group of people has said, ’We’re going to move on and assign this team to another group,'” said Boras, in reference to the Lerner family’s likely sale of the franchise. “…When you’re a player, you can talk about being offered things, but it doesn’t carry with it the intentions [of ownership] and the security of winning — the goals of the player that are beyond economic.”
As one would expect, the potential sale of the Nationals is a complicating factor in both extension and trade talks. It’s understandable if Soto prefers to wait to see what happens with the franchise to get a feel for a new owner’s mentality. Conversely, whether Soto is or isn’t with the team will have an impact on the sale of the team itself. Boras is, unsurprisingly, of the mind that Soto is an asset who’ll enhance the team’s appeal for prospective buyers, as “billionaires certainly like their choices” and will want the option of whether to build around Soto or commit to an early rebuild.
ESPN’s Buster Olney sees things differently, saying on yesterday’s Baseball Tonight podcast that executives around the game believe new owners will want the situation resolved one way or another before taking over. With an extension likely off the table, that would mean completing a trade before the sale of the team goes through. Of course, we don’t yet know who the new owners will be, so that’s a speculative view of the scenario (much like Boras’ belief that the new owners will want the chance to make the choice themselves).
Even in the absence of the current ownership uncertainty, however, Boras seemed to intimate that the Nationals’ offer simply wouldn’t have been sufficient. As we saw with Aaron Judge prior to the season, being paid at an annual rate that’s commensurate with baseball’s top stars appears important to Soto.
“The rarity of Juan Soto, this is from age 19 to 23, so he’s really separated himself to be in a very small group, among Major League history, of performance levels,” said Boras.”[Those players] are going to be at the highest order of average annual values, and yet the proposal placed him well below the top group, in the No. 15 or 20 range.”
All of that lines up to further cement the reality that Soto will at least be available in talks over the coming two weeks, but it’s wholly unclear whether any team will meet what will be a historic asking price. Olney suggested in that previously referenced segment that the Nationals are going to want Major League-ready talent to headline a return and, of note, added that the Yankees and Dodgers are at least somewhat wary of surrendering the type of enormous prospect value Soto will command. The Yankees, of course, also have the future of their own superstar outfielder (Judge) to consider in conjunction with any theoretical Soto scenarios, which only further complicates the equation on their end.
dugmet
Pretty certain Mets owner Steve Cohen is going nowhere and will be present for the duration of the contract.
Captain Judge99
@dugmet- regardless if the Nationals are for sale or not, Stevie Cohen’s not getting his mitts on Mr. Soto. It makes a lot more sense for the Yankees to be involved, because they’re not playing in the NL East.
dlw0906
Why would an outgoing ownership group and GM care about an interdivision trade? It’s their team anymore.
laswagn
The NYM don’t have the pieces to trade like the Yankees, Dodgers, Padres, and few others do
S_man_2014
Well, they still have to sell the team. Buyer could back out.
mrnotsoniceguy
Neither do the Yankees
rct
All of those teams, including the Mets, have enough pieces to get the deal done. Whether or not they want to is the question. The Mets have the weakest farm system out of those four teams and it would plummet their farm system to near the bottom of the league if they acquired Soto, but they do have enough to trade. Alavrez, Baty, Mauricio, Alex Ramirez are all currently top 100 prospects. There’s also Vientos. Their pitching is fairly weak, but they do have a few arms.
Jonthunder
They have a much better farm system than the Mets, but that guarantees nothing.
dugmet
Sure they do. They have quality MLB players they can deal like Nimmo and Peterson plus Uber upper level prospects like Baty and Alvarez.
dshires4
Nobody is going to back out of one of the most exclusive ownership groups in the entire world.. There’s only 30 MLB teams. That’s it. Nobody is going to shy away because of Juan Soto.
BartoloHRball
lol…the Mets have the #2 prospect in all of baseball, at the hardest position to fill. Their minors are top heavy and have plenty to trade…..but what makes them the most likely is Cohen. He can go Golden State the MLB while laughing at the Cohen Tax.
birdsonbat
Stl has enough to get it done, but they’d be scraping, and would also possibly effect current roster if Gorman was even mentioned. I’d love Soto but with uncertainty of price to keep, it’s a huge risk for any team
birdsonbat
And they have looming arenado opt out, yadi and wainwright apparently off the books next year, but I’d be worried about extension with any boras client. Stl isn’t the biggest draw compared to the likes of LA/NY.
amanateeamongmen
They don’t need all the trade pieces, they can agree to eat all of Corbin’s contract.
BaseballGuy1
There is nothing special about Gorman that is going to ever prevent STL from including him in any trade package for any current or future player in MLB. Two factors that heavily weigh against Soto being a STL player would be the ridiculous AAV Soto/Boras will demand as well as the length of contract, neither of which STL rightfully would agree to or be able to swallow. The second factor is the issue of Boras as agent and how he is viewed by many team ownerships, STL are not warm and fuzzy with him, for good reason.
VonPurpleHayes
Agree with rct. Mets certainly have the pieces.
Captain Judge99
@VonPurpleHayes- the Nationals are not trading Soto to the Mets. Why would they trade him within the NL East? That would make zero sense. So it doesn’t matter what kind of pieces they have. Smh
fredziffel78
Especially if it’s Elon Musk.
Mynameisnoname
I’m sure the Mets are now going to be consistently carrying a large payroll but I’m interested to see if Cohen continues to spend in such a manner or was the opening mega bucks salvo a necessary return to relevancy.
VonPurpleHayes
@Captain_Judge99 They will trade him to the team that gives him the best offer. Not everyone is going to be willing to meet the Nats demands. If the Mets are willing, they can land Soto. Same with the Yankees, Giants, Dodgers, Padres, Orioles and many other teams. It’s all about the offer.
Captain Judge99
@VonPurpleHayes- you been to tell me you’re beloved Phillies actually have a “fighter’s chance to acquire Juan Soto”?
kingbum
Losing Soto will devalue the franchise, new ownership may demand Soto stays or the negotiations will end. I know if I was buying a team I wouldn’t want the current owner selling or trading asset pieces I coveted enough to buy the franchise.
VonPurpleHayes
@Captain Judge99 I never mentioned the Phillies once. I don’t believe they have a snowball’s chance in hell of signing Soto.
Captain Judge99
@mrnotsoniceguy- are you really sure about that?
Captain Judge99
@VonPurpleHayes- maybe Phils will sign him if he hits free agency in 2.5 years. That’s definitely possible. The Mets truly don’t have enough top prospects to trade for Soto. And then there’s the NL East thing.
bryan c
Explain how it makes more sense please. Judge is the right fielder currently and supposedly the Yankees wish to keep him. Yanks have two $300M + contracts already vs just Lindor. Yankees believe Volpe is better than Jeter and Dominguez is the next coming of a Ruth/Mantle hybrid although they are both ranked behind Alvarez and Baty according to experts. The Mets also have three more in the top 100 in Ramirez, Vientos and Mauricio and Matt Allen is only outside because of TJ surgery. They also have Peterson and Megill as young controllable arms and the owner has more money and this is only year 1 of luxury tax.
It makes FAR more sense for the Mets to go for it with a smaller window than the Yankees or Dodgers. That said, with the addition of the best draft of 2022 the Mets are probably best to keep their high talent and see what the off-season holds.
Please, I beg all you “the Mets have no farm” to log onto MLB.com and take a look at their top 30. I will tell you Alvarez, Baty, Muaricio, Ramirez, Allen, Ziegler, Juan, Hamel and Butto are legit MLB players and at least the top three picks this year will join them. This is not your daddy’s lol Mets anymore fellas. But keep feeling safe. Helps ya sleep better I suppose
Captain Judge99
@bryan c- It’s nice to hear about the Mets depth in regards to their prospects. Maybe they can make a run for Mr. Soto in a few years, if he becomes a free agent. The Mets are playing well, maybe they should stand pat?
Jonthunder
Yanks have a top 10 farm.
The Mets do not.
howmanytimesdoihavetotellyouoldman.gif
Ma4170
According to who? I trust Baseball America on prospects the most, and as of Feb 2022 the Yankees farm was ranked 13th and Mets 16th – not much of a difference at all. And it’s probably higher now with the strides their top guys have made this year vs. other teams’ talent. And when you have arguably the best prospect in MiLB, you have a leg up. I heard the Nats would want McNeil in the deal, and if I’m the Nats, I demand Matt Allan back too as he’s a premium arm just waiting to come back from surgery. But I don’t think any of this happens – the Dodgers probably swoop in as they have more MLB ready talent to deal plus minor league talent.
Thank_God_Im_Not_Tim_Dierkes
Are you from a state with legalized marijuana? Dominguez is a Mantle/Ruth hybrid? Based on his ability to be a top pitcher and convert to play a sub-par outfield defense while being slow and cranking out 60+ homeruns? Or because he happens to play for the Yankees and is a switch-hitter who plays CF? Maybe it’s just because you think he has a drinking problem and plays hungover?
There is absolutely no way on God’s green earth super-hyped Jasson Dominguez even becomes a regular All-Star except for Yankees fan ruining the ballot each year and keep real All-Stars at home.
Big deal Stanton hit a homerun off a career swing pitcher playing over his head, using his one carrying tool and gets A-S MVP. None of that changes the fact Stanton should never have even been selected, the Yankees fans stole Luis Robert’s spot. Julio should’ve started with Judge and Buxton, with Trout not playing.
On to your Anthony Volpe comment,in case you forgot who he is, cause I did (hyperbole), wasn’t even on a single person’s radar three years ago (not hyperbole) is going to come in and hit like Jeter? Now if you mean he’ll be defensively better than Jeter, that’s possible if we are talking late career Jeter.
Honestly for half of his career Jeter put his ego in front of his team which is why the championships disappeared until the st-A-Roid era reached it’s pinnnacle with the juicing 3B in 2009. Let’s be clear, the Yankees could’ve played Posada at SS in the 2000s with better defensive results (kinda joking).
All I’m saying is Tommy Edman is his best comp, but Volpe doesn’t make asuch contact, the only other possibility is he becomes a Jean Segura type. Fangraphs refers to him as being built like a T-Rex, my words not theirs, they just said he had short arms, my imagination made him look like Robby from the tv show Dinosaurs playing 2B in a Yankees jersey.
But more seriously, fangraphs did say he’ll probably move across to the keystone.eaning he could be like a super-light hitting Jeter-type 2B playing out of position. Realize Volpe is also 5 months younger than Julio, who actually is draeing inner-circle HOF comparisons.
My favorite part about the Volpe projections to show the Yankee bias, fangrapha has him as a current 35/60 for hitting AND power. I’ve NEVER (seriously) seen a 21-year-old minor leaguer get double 35 current ratings for hit and power and have the ceiling of 60 for both.
Are they heading to the Marvel Universe on their way in from Scranton and going to put Volpe inside the isobaric chamber that turned Steve Rogers into Captain America before he gets to Yankee stadium when he’s called-up? Cause otherwise he may have the fans mistake who he is and either call out Rogers when he bats or Torres, depending on whether they are looking at his size or his stats.
That your comment got one like after your hot take on every Yankee prospect vecomes a legend is hilarious to me and why the Yankees are the most cringy team in baseball now. I would never want to play for them and I’m clean shaven and love baseball history. Please don’t tell me about their storied traditions, aside from a couple seasons in the 90s, nobody in this chat was alive when their legends played. I doubt people would talk about the Yankee legscy if it was just Jeter, Rivera, Posada, and Pettitte.
Jeremy320
Find out what nationals want. Trade polar bear for that prospect. Dom smith at first. Flip prospect and package for soto…
metsie1
So the Yankees who haven’t yet paid Aaron Judge are now going to give up the prospects (Volpe, Dominguez etc) AND pay Juan Soto $500M? They do that then Judge is certainly GONE. This is Hal Steinbrenner’s Yankees. George is dead. I don’t think so.
FWIW I don’t see the Mets doing it either. A top 5 prospect and a Top 25 prospect Alvarez and Baty are both in positions of need. Cost effective players are still valuable especially to teams up against the luxury tax.
Captain Judge99
@metsie1- I find it ironic how I keep saying that Anthony Volpe is unavailable via trade for this year. And how fans(especially Met fans) assume he’s getting traded. Smh. The Yankees have said time and time again, that Volpe WILL NOT be traded. Understand now? Lol
saluelthpops
Have they said it since Soto became available? Seriously asking as I don’t follow commentary on Yankees minor leaguers.
AmericanRedneck
I’m old enough to remember when Cashman said Bubba Crosby was their centerfielder. Soto is a special talent with two-plus years of team control, Volpe would absolutely be on the table if the Bombers were serious about acquiring him. IMO, they should. OF is their only real weakness, Judge shouldn’t be in CF 4 days a week. Donaldson and IKF haven’t been the best on offense but they’ve made up for it in the field.
Trade two of their top farm dudes, add Joey Gallo (and some salary) for ML roster balancing purposes and Jasson D. with Volpe plus some throw-ins, would be a helluva package. Fun fact: Refsnyder was a top prospect in the organization at one time, whose name was tossed around here with vigor in many trade proposals, until he stunk – which most prospects do. Soto is a special player with copious amounts of ML success. With all that said, I don’t think he’ll be traded, the Nats are stubborn.
Zachg547
Then Soto will not be a Yankee. That simple.
Captain Judge99
@Zachg547- you don’t really know that boss. That’s just your opinion. It means nothing. Not worth a trade without an extension lst anyway. Nobody should have to give up they’re top prospects without getting the extension for Mr. Soto.
BartoloHRball
Joey Gallo is LITERALLY one of the three worst hitters in MLB this year…and likely the absolute worst. He is negative value.
Thank_God_Im_Not_Tim_Dierkes
Just ask yourself one question, if you were buying the Nationals, would you pay more or less knowing that Soto is now going to be in New York on a long term deal? They are not only paying for the stadium, the employees, the players, the equipment, and all the other things owned by the organization, but also, the value of the team is directly correlated to their chances of becoming pennant winners and champions.
I want to also point out that with Keibert Ruiz as a long-term catching solution behind the plate, the best Mets prospect Alvarez plays the only position that has a core player for the future.. Sure Alvarez and Ruiz could rotate at DH and C, but that really cuts into the future flexibility of the team in terms of roster construction.
As for the rest of the prospects, Baty looks solid as a 3rd or 4th piece, but not as a 2nd piece, I’d have no interest in a corner infield bat like Vientos, where he has too much arm for 1st and not enough fielding skills to be good at 3B, plus he’s a base clogger at 22, that won’t end well.
Ronny Mauricio is a future utility player as he lacks contact skills and plate recognition as demonstrated by his .248/.282/.475 triple slash and only 13 walks. He’s too slow to stick at SS and won’t make enough contact to get to his power. Figure he’ll be a .240/.280/450 type, picture modern day Dylan Moore without the foot speed.
Alex Ramirez is a solid prosect, but he’s a long ways off and not showing the tools that has been promised by scouts.. He has some pop and some contact skills, he’s much better at plate discipline than Mauricio. In the end,
I’m not trading Soto unless I get three position players and two solid arms with one carrying the potential to be a frontline starter. Say the Mets were in the AL or a different division of the NL, I would want Alvarez, Baty, Ramirez, Allan, and Ziegler, but since you’re in the same division, I’d ask for Vientos or MeGill and you’d have to take on almost all of Corbin’s contract.
If I’m the Nationals and I trade Soto to you, I’m assuming you’re extending him for 10+ years and for that, I’m going to make it hurt like you can’t imagine and I have to believe that the Nationals would act in the same manner.
atxapex
The trade is for an additional 2 years of arbitration control. He’ll make $50MM a year, but you do have a shot at a title for 3 years straight. Mets, Yankees, and Red Sox will all be in the mix.
stymeedone
Its most likely a trade doesn’t occur until the offseason, when near ready,and recently ready players can be moved, while allowing time for replacement depth to be acquired. As an example, StL including Gorman in the package leaves a hole in the IF, that now needs filling. Not what you want during the stretch run. The players that could be moved in the winter, will be a larger pool than what teams would consider now.
believeitornot
If a team has a catching prospect, I would include that guy. Ruiz has been a disappointment. He has not even been average with the bat. I just don’t think the Mets have the number of prospects to pull off a trade of this magnitude even if they agree to take Corbin’s contract.
Thank_God_Im_Not_Tim_Dierkes
@ believeitornot Why?? he basically has produced as well as the “All-Star” Jose Trevino this season. Just for fun, I put together a side-by-side of him and a future HOF who plays for the Cards at the same age and in their same season.
Molina is the superior defender in his 3rd season (age 23) in 2006. But Ruiz has much better wheels and better offense in his 3rd season (age 23) in 2022. Don’t believe me, check the link.
stathead.com/tiny/dkqak
Similar power and both had a similar plate approach. However, offense today is harder to come by and Molina had a 53 OPS+ vs Ruiz having a 90 OPS+. Moral of the story is catchers take time to develop and patience can work in the Nationals favor.
I Would sign Ruiz to an 6-year deal for $25M+ with a couple options for $7.5M/year taking the total value to around $50M over 8-years including the options, plus escalators for performance that can bring the max value to around $65M over 8 seasons, if he becomes the catcher he was described as in the prospect reviews.
You make it sound like he’s a bum, but really he’s still at the age most catchers are playing AA. I was quite impressed with him in the short amount of time I watched him play against the Mariners.
bryan c
Baty a fourth piece? Dude hits 290 and has power growing and is ranked top 20 by everyone. You are a joke
Jeremy320
No incoming ownership group is going to care about Soto playing for the nym, you homer lol. They care about the value of the investment.
Jonthunder
They probably care about not finishing behind the Marlins, Mets, and Braves, for 10 years, because it will severely damage that investment.
If the Phillies spend more “stupid money,” the playoffs will be a pipe dream.
AmericanRedneck
The most valuable player on the Nats, is one Juan Soto. He absolutely increases the value of the organization as all good players under team control do. The bad ones? The opposite effect. We all know the ML team is a compilation of 26 players at any given time, trading the best of the 26 – does indeed diminish value, that’s where the return would need to be a large boon to make it make sense. Are there other expenditures and resources, of course – but the ML team is at the core for a valuation. I think a 440M contract for one guy over 15 years, until his age 38 season, isn’t a smart move for a team looking to sell – look at Pujols, Cano and A-Rod, among others, who were/are negative contributors during the last year or two of a deal. Just my 3 cents.
PutPeteinthehall
Agree signing any one player for 440m is not a good strategy. Any serious injury and the chance for a contract like this is gone. Boras should have handcuffed him until he signed.
iverbure
What does spending have to do with anything? The Phillies spent a bunch of money and finished with the same record as they did the prior season? Why do ignorant fans think spending equals wins?
stymeedone
I disagree that the players are the most valuable part of a franchise. Rosters change from year to year. Boston won a WS and then fell to last place. I really don’t think it affected the value of the franchise much at all. The roster was virtually the same. Its the franchise itself that holds the value, as there are only 30 of them. If they trade Soto, they could then sign Correa (they do need a SS). Or like Texas, they could sign multiple mega contracts. The only thing that changes is long term debt. If I’m the new owner of the team, I wouldn’t want to start my tenor by trading Soto. Let that be on the outgoing owners. I’d be the one signing Correa, and Judge to revive the fan base and be the hero.
JoeBrady
One more thing that the open check book fans miss. That $500M can be spend on a myriad of ways. You can get a lot of WAR from 3 $13M players, depending on your depth.
And just imo, if I needed one player to win me a WS, I’d be paying that money to an ace, not a position player. It is just too easy to negate the value of one-dimensional offensive players.
That said, the mention of Judge is interesting. I hate the NYY as much as anyone, but if I had a choice between Judge at $245M/7, or Soto at $490M/14, I would choose Judge. If one agreed with that scenario, then what motivation would I have to trade top prospects for Soto?
curtiss
Definitely a nationals fan with all this negative energy and hate on the Mets
Animalize
@TGWAAngels Well done!
thedudeabides 2
Why would anyone surrender a load of prospects for the right to offer a $500M extension? Boras takes his clients to market
If Soto is coming to the rangers I’d rather wait a year and get him for the draft pick
Boras/Soto can make it happen and it will be better for Soto long term not to join an organization that just depleted its farm system.
ArianaGrandSlam
Soto will be traded to the Yankees and yes they’ll take Stephen as well. Nats can take Gallo. Okay fine, they’ll take Corbin too.
ChiSoxCity
LOL!
Jonthunder
Wait. What!?
24TheKid
Real
DarkSide830
Real
Captain Judge99
@ArianaGrandSlam- It’s very possible that Soto and Corbin will be traded to the Yankees, But it’s definitely not guaranteed. The Dodgers are definitely still in play for Soto, because that’s one of the teams that he wants to play for. It makes sense if there’s an extension involved, that it’s either the Yankees or the Dodgers his two preference’s. We’ll see.
Thank_God_Im_Not_Tim_Dierkes
What makes you think that anyone wants the Yankees prospects? Aside from Judge and Severino, every other prospect has busted for the most part. Gleyber Torres? He’s not bad, but his last few seasons and his only okay performance in 2022, makes him a major under-performer for a former top 5 prospect in MLB.
Miguel Andujar? Estevan Florial? Kyle Higashioka? While not all of their top prospects fail, most of them are very overhyped. Look for Jasson Dominguez to be the next Austin Jackson, meaning a great 4th outfielder or defensive minded CF, but he’ll never be the player people hype him up to becoming.
Just look at their team of mercenaries, Stanton (MIA), Donaldson (MIN), Rizzo (CHC), Gallo (TEX), Carpenter (STL), LeMauieu (COL) I.K.F. (TEX/MIN), Trevino (TEX), Marwin (HOU), Hicks (MIN), Locastro (ARI), Brantly (MIA),
The only homegrown position players on the Yankees are Aaron Judge and the under-whelming results of a former Top 5 prospect in MLB, to go with three bench players that hit so bad, they’d be better off letting their pitchers bat for them.
On the pitching side, 3/5 of the rotation was acquired from other teams through free agency or trade, Cole (HOU), Cortes (SEA), Taillon (PIT). The bullpen is Holmes (PIT), Luetge (SEA), Peralta (SFG), Castro (NYM), Chapman (CHC), Abreu (KCR), Weber (SEA), McKay (TBR), Banuelos (PIT). Only Loaisiga, Green, King, and Schmidt are home grown.
That’s literally 2 position players, 2 starters, and 4 bullpen arms out of a 40-man roster. Not only that, but guys like Judge, Severino, and Montgomery were always considered off limits, only trading their flawed top prospects while keeping only their best prospects for themselves.
Besides Austin Jackson, when has the Yankees ever traded a player that lived up to the hype? I wouldn’t trust Volpe or their other prospects either.
compassrose
Seattle has traded a lot of pitchers to the Yankees especially BP and Seattle still has a better BP. This road trip hopefully they keep playing like before the break and win the tough series coming up.
Dogbone
Exactly Angels. Why Cashman still has a job, is amazing. If it wasn’t for the deep pockets of the Yankees – they would be worse off, than the O’s are. They are a team of mercenaries, as you say.
Gasu1
You got just a few details wrong; Higgy, Torres, Abreu, Cortes, Banuelos, Loaisaga, and Green. Regarding Higgy, he was never hyped. As for the others, you should just go to a reference site and see what systems actually initially signed them and which developed them.
myaccount2
@thank_god- As a Mariners fan, I’d like to point out that Cortes was a Yankee, then a Mariner, then a Yankee again… so they didn’t really get him from Seattle.
Captain Judge99
@TGWAA- This Volpe kid is pretty special. He could be the next Jeter out there. Who knows? He’s not going to be available to anyone. The Yankees love this kid, and he seems to be improving all the time. The Yankees can offer the Nationals a haul of prospects, that they should strongly consider trading for. I love the idea of trading for Soto because everyday I’m starting to feel more and more Judge is going to leave and go out West and join the San Francisco Giants. My guess is $45 million annually for the next 8 years. That’s why I want Soto so much. Dominguez, Peraza, Schmidt, Waldichuk, Pereira, Hicks, and Gallo for Soto and Corbin. It seems worth it for the Yankees and the Nationals. Hopefully it get’s done and quickly.
Thank_God_Im_Not_Tim_Dierkes
@Judge99 That would never get it done, I would laugh at that offer.
Thank_God_Im_Not_Tim_Dierkes
@myaccount2 Yeah, but Cortes wasn’t worth crap until after he left Seattle and their talented development team. When he got to Seattle he sucked and he never was that good while in New York the first time.
Captain Judge99
@TGWAA- it really doesn’t matter what you really think, or what you say. All that matters at the end of day is what the Nationals want. They can’t expect any team to take Corbin or Strasburg back with open arms. It doesn’t work that way. Looks like Soto is going somewhere though, he can’t stay in Washington anymore.
Mynameisnoname
Many of the pitchers on your list were drafted and reacquired by the Yankees. Definitely the stronger side of development, especially moving forward with Blake around.
Jonthunder
You would laugh at nothing, because no one will be asking for your opinion lol.
goastros123
If they don’t offer Volpe, the Yankees most likely don’t get Soto.
SoCalBrave
@CJ99 why would the gNats take Hicks and Gallo?
it’s pretty simple, if the Yankees want Soto, they MUST include Volpe.
Tom Price
Another in a very long line of delusional yankee fans
Captain Judge99
@Tom Price- what makes you say that? The man in question wants a contract extension with 2 teams, the Dodgers or the Yankees. So how is that being delusional? Please explain.
goastros123
I can’t seem to find a single article that says he wants to play for the Dodgers or Yankees and extend his contract with them. Don’t just assume those teams are number one on everyone’s list. You’re also forgetting one very important thing: the Nationals asking price.
thecrown24
Captain Judge99 The Yankees are not signing Both Judge and Soto (If they trade for him) That’s just not going to happen. You are prepared to let Judge Walk and say goodbye? where are you getting the reports that it’s only the Yankees or the Dodgers he wants to ink an extension with? If the Yankees are not including Volpe In any deal The Nats are Immediately hanging the phone up.
Captain Judge99
@thecrown24- all not true. If you want to believe all of that, by all means enjoy all your delusion. Volpe does not have to be included in any Soto trade. Especially with Corbin being included in the trade. Nothing etched in stone that Judge is re-signing either. Getting Soto definitely makes the Yankees less worried about the whole Judge situation. If he leaves. He leaves. The Yankees would have Soto playing rightfield next season. The Nats would definitely take Dominguez and Peraza+ back for Soto.
Thank_God_Im_Not_Tim_Dierkes
Then who are you giving up? I wouldn’t even talk to the Yankees without Volpe and Dominguez being included, but I’d also want three other pieces all under 25 years old.
Thank_God_Im_Not_Tim_Dierkes
I’ve read everyone and heard his interview, he has said nothing at all about the Yankees and Dodgers. To be honest, this is more hyperbole by the media acting like they are the only ones with money. Remember the Mariners have the best farm system out of the Yankees, Mariners, and Dodgers.
The Mariners whole team is under 30 except for like 4 or 5 players, Frazier -30 and Suarez who just turned 30, but is in his age 29 y.o. season, Santana – 36 who was just acquired, the DFA’d or soon to be DFA’d back up outfielders (Upton – 34, and Souza – 33 & Retired), and finally Murphy and Haniger who are both 31.
Then add into it the talent of their top farm hands (Marte, Ford, Brash, Hancock, the two unrelated Arroyos (Edwin & Michael), Gonzalez, Lazaro, Clase, DeLoach, Stoudt, Dollard, Miller, and the soon to be signed Felnin Celestin this winter who is supposed to be the best international prospect since Wander Franco, but faster and more athletic.
Oh and before we talk about money, remember the Mariners are one of the few teams that OWN their broadcast station and they make money on the Kraken, UW, WSU, Oregon, Oregon St., Boise St.., Trailblazers, Sounders, and Timber games. That is significant revenue from outside sports teams. Plus their broadcast area in WA, Alaska, British Columbia and Alberta, Canada, Idaho, Oregon, Montana, and parts of Wyoming and northern Utah.
Just because the Mariners didn’t spend $150M in a losing year doesn’t mean they don’t have the money to pay Corbin for 2+ years, and still sign Julio and Juan to 14-year deals ($350 for J-Rod and $450 for Soto).
Jonthunder
This is why you’re not a GM lol.
SaltLakeBrave
@Thank, not a big deal but, northern Utah doesn’t get Mariners games on the radio.
Captain Judge99
@TGWAA- the Yankees will give up Jasson Dominguez, Oswald Peraza, Clarke Schmidt, Ken Waldichuk, Everson Pereira, Aaron Hicks and Joey Gallo for Juan Soto and Patrick Corbin. It remains to be seen if the Yankees would trade Peraza in a Luis Castillo package.
Thank_God_Im_Not_Tim_Dierkes
You’re still tagged as their audience, just like I was blocked fr seeing Mariners when they played the Athletics in Vegas while I lived in Sin City. How in Jesus is L.V. part of Oakland’s blackout radius? It sucks you guys don’thave an MLB team yet. I hope Salt Lake gets a major league team in the next group of explansions along with Portland, Charlotte, Nashville, Las Vegas, and Albuquerque or San Antonio. I think 6 divisions of 6 teams makes a ton of sense snd better noe that all teams use th DH.
Jonthunder
The Mariners don’t have a top 10 farm system, much less one better than any of the teams listed above.
Whoever told you that lied to you lol.
stymeedone
Soto has no say in where he gets traded, and Boras will accept anyone’s money. He not prejudice.
SportsFan0000
Why would the Nats want Gallo or Hicks?!
It just makes the Yankees offer that much weaker than it already is.
mrshyguy99
Are you trying to trade a injury pitcher who won’t be back all season? Can you even trade injury players is that even allowed
Jonthunder
Generally, no, that doesn’t happen.
bross16
Yes you can
DarkSide830
Um, yeah, it does happen.
Jonthunder
It does, but it’s a rarity.
This is a case where the player is almost irrelevant: the acquiring team is helping clear Washington’s payroll.
Thank_God_Im_Not_Tim_Dierkes
Yes Andres Munoz was traded to the Mariners while injured with TJ surgery and yet to even throw as part of the Austin Nola package that also included Ty France, Luis Torrens, ad Taylor Trammell.
compassrose
Can someone take Torrens back? The other guys are fine Torrens doesn’t hit and even though he has improved he still doesn’t block the plate well.
Smelly_Cobb
You should be happy with that ridiculous haul the padres gave away
kremer
I doubt strasburgh and his full no trade clause would approve that.
Dogs
Gallo is a Free Agent at the end of the season anyway.
Catuli Carl
Question is, which team is willing to empty their farm system for 2.5 years of Soto and a horrendous Corbin contract?
Catuli Carl
Dodgers probably and then they’ll somehow have a stacked crop of prospects again by the time Soto’s contract ends.
gmenfan
If Soto goes to LA, it’s hard to envision the Dodgers not finding a way to extend him.
Shrutefarm
gmenfan – 2 words……Scott Boras
Thank_God_Im_Not_Tim_Dierkes
Good point because the Dodgers clearly ponied up for Seager.
Cosmo2
I doubt if anyone is emptying their farm system AND paying Corbin’s contract. It’s either or.
JohnJasoJingleHeimerSchmidt
Adding Corbin to the trade willingly tanks the value that the Nationals could get in a Soto trade.
The *only* reason I could see them doing it is that it may help the Lerners down the road when they sell to not have Corbin’s salary on the books.
cubsmetsbrewers
Yeah its like this: we will take soto, in return we will take Patrick corbin too and pay his salary. That’s what we will give you for Soto.
Hey Cosmo2 where’s Soto going? Can you look up to the Cosmos and tell me that bingtard – i bet Lauren would like you.. oh wait, you’re a baseball fan 😉 chi chi boi
dlw0906
Thank you. Everyone thinks you will have to gut the farm, plus offer your first born and a future child to be named later for Soto. You take on one (or even two) of those contracts and the price comes down a fair amount. Even without taking on a contract I think people will be surprised how, while of course substantial, much less the Nats will get for Soto than they think. After this season Rizzo, the Lerners and front office will have no connection to the Nats. They aren’t invested in the team’s future. They will take what they can get, and maybe some team will make a crazy offer of players but I wouldn’t bet the farm on that happening. Though I could see someone like the Rockies or Marlins doing that. As much as would love him on the Mets he in so many ways a perfect for for the Marlins and they have both the prospects and young controllable players to do it.
Bobby smac9
So basically you wouldn’t bet the farm on them betting the farm?
compassrose
I bet he bets the Ranch though.
Thank_God_Im_Not_Tim_Dierkes
The total value should be $125M and with overpay for midseason, call it $130-140M
A win was $9.5M two years ago, and this past offseason had a win drop to $8.5M, so if you call it $9M and you figure he had projected WAR of 7.8 going into 2022, he should be expected to max his WAR at 8 wins per season,
You can’t “expect” more than that, prime Trout in 2019 was only expected to have a 8.3 WAR and he was far faster, better at defending, played a better position, had multiple MVP seasons, and had a better track record.
Figure you get Soto for 2.33 season or roughly 2.67 + 8 + 8 = 18.67, we’ll round up to 20 wins. Take 20 wins x $9M and you get $180M, Soto is due to make at least $55M, which leaves $125M in value. Not exactly the huge return everyone exaggerates, but still a solid amount.
I also don’t think they will want anyone over 23 years old because otherwise they are just burning prime years on a losing team.
TexasLeaguer
@Catuli Carl
Hard to see the dodgers landing him when they’ll have to focus on the 3rd base and shortstop market following this season.
mrshyguy99
Lux can play ss if turner some how doesn’t come back . They have a good 2nd/ss I believe in the minors they be fine . 3rd be their only problem
TexasLeaguer
Lux would almost certainly be apart of the package. Probably starts with Gonsolin and Lux
cubsmetsbrewers
nl missed turner last night cosmos2 would know that
Thank_God_Im_Not_Tim_Dierkes
So Lux is going to play 3B, SS, and 2B?? Pretty good defensive skills I guess. Turner is under contract for next year, so he’s coming back, but even then the Dodgers aren’t going to get another corner OF bat in Soto. More likely they will try to resign Turner or look to add Bogaerts , but even if they did want Soto, their best trade piece is a catcher, which is the one position Washington has a core piece (Ruiz).
Smelly_Cobb
Trea’s contract is up after 2022
mlbdodgerfan2015
As long as Lux doesn’t completely tank the rest of the season I see him as the starting SS next season. Dodgers do get some contracts out of the books with Bauer suspended, Price done after this season, but they still do have some expensive contracts on the book and will need to replenish those expiring contracts, such as Kershaw and Trea Turner. Lux can do that for Trea but obviously a big dropoff in production. Muncy and Bellinger need to get some of the production lost, or else they’re not plus contracts anymore. Dodgers need to reset the luxury at some point. I think it’s after 2022 season but I guess they can go another year but it starts getting very expensive.
I just don’t see Soto coming to L.A. They were able to get Mookie cheaper because they took half of Price’s terrible contract and Mookie closer to free agency. They’re not exactly in that position given going over the luxury and Soto having more years before free agency. So they’ll have to pony up a lot more for Soto. Are they willing to gut the farm system for one superstar player that they’ll need to pay top $ to keep? Doesn’t seem like a good fit. Key to the Dodgers has been developing young cheap players and obtaining high upside players that failed elsewhere at essentially zero cost.
cubsmetsbrewers
Andy pages is a creak
mrshyguy99
Dodgers are smart and never blow up their farm to get a guy just look at their history . They barely traded anything to get Mookie .
Captain Judge99
@mrshyguy99- well don’t think that Mookie didn’t push for a trade to LA. That’s exactly where he wanted to be all along. Glad it all worked out for him.
believeitornot
It isn’t even 2.5 years. However, I think a trade could be contingent upon Soto getting 72 hours to agree to a long term deal with the new team. With a long extension guaranteed, the new team would be more willing to pony up.
stymeedone
@believe
The greater the dollars to sign Soto, the less surplus value he provides. Him signing before a trade could limit the amount that gets offered. I’d pay more for him as a $27MM aav, than I would if he was $40MM aav. Unsigned its unknown.
Jeremy320
Corbin is not getting traded. Believe it or not that contract has value in negotiations. The lerners already have it as sunk cost.
Captain Judge99
@Jeremy320- the Nationals already have said that Patrick Corbin, and his contract would have to be included in a Juan Soto trade.
mlb1225
Source?
Captain Judge99
@mlb1225- if the Nats just deal Soto the package of players would be better. They are trying to include Corbin in the deal so they get out of his contract. Good luck with that. So they will have to take some salary back in doing so. Unfortunately, I can’t tell you my source sorry. You’ll see it shortly though.
SoCalBrave
You seem to forget that Soto comes with 2+ years of control. That alone makes his value much greater than you think. Including Corbin is about the only way other teams could even come close to giving the Nats fair value. And yes, that means the Yankees would have to give Volpe, Dominguez plus a lot more.
And no, adding Gallo and Hicks won’t work. If anything they lessen the value of the package.
Animalize
@Jeremy: How do you know this?
Inside Out
Could not be happier that Soto told Lerner where to go. Trying to pay below market value and trying to make the player look greedy, by an owner worth over $4 billion shows what a sad family the Lerners
are
CujoMarlin
I’m so tired of the “the owner is rich, they should give the player(s) whatever they want” argument.
Catuli Carl
Business owners who create thousands of jobs are mean and bad and don’t deserve to make a profit.
Men who play a game for a living are angels, invaluable contributors to society and deserve all the money in the world!
Leftist labor theory is asinine but pervasive unfortunately.
Braves&Chargers
Owners who created those jobs and profits off of the work of other people. I have absolutely no sympathy for any of the owners. Those profits that other people earned shouldn’t just sit in the owners pocket.
Ella B
“Leftist labor theory”? You clowns can’t even leave politics out of a sports thread.
Prospectnvstr
On the other hand, the players wouldn’t make 100’s of millions of dollars if it wasn’t for the owners. Just sayin…
JoeBrady
Simply put their offer was trash.
============================
Complete nonsense.
1-This was the biggest contract offer in history.
2-Soto is by no means the best player in the game.
One could argue that this was an overpay, but to say is was a trash offer is beyond ridiculous. I doubt he gets paid much more than the current offer.
Thank_God_Im_Not_Tim_Dierkes
Good point because there has never been a star player that signed a quarter of a billion dollar deal and never lived up to it that the ownership had to eat… Besides Strasburg and Pujols was still able to play… badly, Cano is still in the league earning his $25M a year. Yeah screw the owners who never get left holding the bag on bad contracts besides that Rendon guy!
Thank_God_Im_Not_Tim_Dierkes
Because baseball isn’t involved in politics? Like the steroid scandal and players testifying on Capitol Hill? By the way, for those who want to talk about the super rich owners, they are almost all liberals, as are the vast majority of millionaires in this country. You have to get the other owners to approve you buying the team and I suppose that has nothing to do with politics either? Sure. Let’s all skip through the fields singing the smurf song, la-la, la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la-la and pretend we compartmentalize everything in our lives including pretending sports aren’t affected by laws and regulations put forth by the states.
ChuckyNJ
It’s not “leftist labor theory”, it’s tabloid thinking.
BeforeMcCourt
“ On the other hand, the players wouldn’t make 100’s of millions of dollars if it wasn’t for the owners. Just sayin…”
What a dumb assumption. Yes they would
Players now make hundreds of millions of dollars because cable companies are now paying billions of dollars for the exclusive right to broadcast the players elite, unique skill. Owners have been around since the 1800s. Why have salaries skyrocketed in the last 20 years, if the owners were always the answer?
Further, there are way more than 30 people who have the money and desire to own an MLB franchise. Sport teams, even non competitive teams, are cash cows. Notice how even the Royals of the game are rarely sold? They’re profit machines! The owners sit on their thumbs, sometimes, into their 90s and collect money off the natural talent of 19-40 year old men
Owners don’t make the game. You’re a fool and a corporate pawn, arguing to protect a billionaire’s ATMs from scrutiny, if you actually believe that nonsense
BLIN7Y
If a Owner of any Business can’t make a Profit off your Labor then you are unemployable.
Workers are not hired just to fill a spot, they are there to make the Owner money. If you can’t do that you will either be not hired or let go. That’s just Business
BeforeMcCourt
“ Workers are not hired just to fill a spot, they are there to make the Owner money. If you can’t do that you will either be not hired or let go. That’s just Business”
This isn’t Walmart buddy. These guys are the elite of the elite. The .01% in this skill, and people who post here, along with 10s of millions of others, will pay to watch that unique skill.
No one gives a damn who the owner is. But they care who the 3rd hitter is…
Again, these franchises multiply in value faster than almost any other commodity in the world. There’s a reason there’s always a dozen interested parties in any team for sale in any of the major sports! Some groups cross into other sports! Why? It Isn’t because the owners are special. They’re literally ATMs
JoeBrady
BeforeMcCourt53 mins ago
“ On the other hand, the players wouldn’t make 100’s of millions of dollars if it wasn’t for the owners. Just sayin…”
What a dumb assumption. Yes they would……………..
You’re a fool and a corporate pawn, arguing to protect a billionaire’s ATMs from scrutiny,
===================================
Then you should start a league. Give the players 90% of the revenue, you keep 10%, and you’d make a cool $1.2B a year sitting on your thumbs.
Poster formerly known as . . .
“By the way, for those who want to talk about the super rich owners, they are almost all liberals, as are the vast majority of millionaires in this country.”
I’d be interested in your data supporting that claim. Please share.
Thanks.
Animalize
@Carl: On the flip side, owners treat the overwhelming majority of players like barely-humans. Minimum salary, optioned back and forth to and from the minors constantly, manipulate service time, given up on and traded constantly if they fail to instantly perform big in the majors even despite small sample sizes, etc. No loyalty. Treated like inanimate entities, practically like they’re literally just baseball cards.
There needs to be a strong focus on solid business philosophy and turning a profit, but offset by a very strong union that cares about all players and protects them from the evil greed of owners, agents, and the scumbag commissioner.
stymeedone
@McCourt
You are correct, fans care about who bats 3rd, just like they care about who stars in the Fantastic Four movie. It is the owner who puts up the money that the determines who does bat 3rd, just like its the producers that provide the money and pay the actors for a movie. If the cast and script and advertising are good, the producers will reap the box office. Fans will know the stars, but they won’t know the producers, even if the movie bombs and the producers rack up losses. Just like the owners risk money. There is no roster w/o someone paying them. Compare the lineups of the NYY and the Pirates. They may not be who fans come to see, but who the owner is has a direct impact on who the players on the field are. Look at the Angels, a big market team that struggles to play .500, and Tampa Bay, one of the lowest payroll teams that is in the hunt regularly. Owners matter.
JoeBrady
“the owner is rich, they should give the player(s) whatever they want” argument.
===========================================
I think there are some people in this country that feel the rich aren’t entitled to anything. The same people will gladly buy an Apple phone, but some MS products, a laptop from Dell, and of course, some streaming products from Amazon.
But hypocritically think that the people that sell them those products don’t deserve the profit they make on them.
Animalize
@JoeBrady: Moral Capitalism is the key.
Unfortunately almost all capitalism is shrouded in corruption and greed (and government subsidies and payola), and really isn’t even capitalism at all.
mcmillankmm
$440M and the largest guarantee ever is below market value?
Appalachian_Outlaw
For Soto, yes, it’s below market. He wouldn’t even be top 10 in AAV. Add to that, he wouldn’t even have the highest AAV on his own team. At it’s core, what’s more valuable: 162 games from Soto or maybe 20 starts from Strasburg?
JoeBrady
Don’t commingle AAV and duration & total contract value. Harper accepted “only” $25.38M/year, but took that because it guaranteed 13 years, and therefore the biggest package at the time.
Assuming Soto gets $50M/2 in arb, then the extension is 13 years at $30M. If he wants $40M per, he can get it, but won’t get 13 years.
And the Nats absorb the 2+ year risk of something happening to him. Thought of from a risk perspective, he can get $50M/s in arb, then sign a FA contract. If he gets the highest non-Trout contract, which he shouldn’t, it will be the Lindor or Tatis contracts. Assuming he gets the Lindor package, aka the biggest non-Trout, it will add another $341M/10.
So the total for 12 years will still only be $391M/12. If everything goes perfectly, maybe he tops the $440M. If anything goes wrong, he won’t be close to $440M. Look at the contracts that Baez, Rizzo, Bryant, Correa, etc., turned down. There are probably plenty of other players that have turned down lucrative extensions, only to be injured or have their skills decline.
BeforeMcCourt
He wants 36M a year. He wants Rendon, Trout and Mookie money. Boras has said as much without spewing a number.
He’s 23. Already has 17M in the bank for this year and 50M+ in arb coming, basically no matter what. This isn’t Tatis’s situation. This is Mookie/Boston all over again. You want to sign him for life, right now? You’re gonna have to make it worth it for him to forgo free agency. Offering a salary for the next 15 years he can get in a suppressed arbitration market in less than 2? How is that seen as competitive?
And assuming he wants 40M+ is intentionally inflating his demands, so you then can scrutinize him for being unreasonable. Do better.
JoeBrady
BeforeMcCourt57 mins ago
He wants 36M a year. He wants Rendon, Trout and Mookie money.
=========================================
Rendon gets paid $245M/7
Betts gets paid (PV) $307M/12
Are you sure that is all he wants? If that’s the case, I can broker this deal tomorrow, and I will only charge 1% agent fee.
BeforeMcCourt
First, Mookie is 12/365
Second, I thought his aav was higher, closer to 33-35M. Frankly, he shouldn’t be included on that list. Soto just turned down Mookie’s actual aav, within a million. So sub Gerrit Cole into the list.
Read the last quote from boras. Soto wants to be paid at the top of the current superstar market. It is really easy to see what the top of the market is…
JoeBrady
BeforeMcCourt
First, Mookie is 12/365
===============================
Mookie’s contract contains a lot of deferred money. The $440M that the Nats offered contained no deferrals. The $307M is based on calculations agreed to by the owners and PA, for cap purposes.
That said, I accept your replacement value of Gerrit Cole. But it makes no difference. Cole gets paid $324/9 with no deferrals. Kindly call up Mr. Soto, and I will call up Mr. Rizzo, and we can sign the $324M extension this afternoon. I will even split my agent fee with you.
The issue here is that you are only reading half of Boras’s statement. He simultaneously wants Soto to get a top of the market annual salary. But he also wants top of the market duration. You cannot have both. Not in baseball and not in the real world. You pay more for a 30-year mortgage than a 15-year mortgage because a 30-year mortgage is riskier The same logic applies to baseball players.
stymeedone
For AAV, he wouldn’t be in the top 10. But he would be #1 in total contact dollars and #1 in contract length. Do those things not count?
Thank_God_Im_Not_Tim_Dierkes
When it is backloaded so the Lerner’s can maximize profits for the next couple years while they transfer ownership, and then the new owner can pay Soto $40-50M/year for his late 20s and early 30s.
stymeedone
What’s your point? Does Soto not still get paid? Only thing Boras cares about is the money is green.
bbatardo
They obviously tacked on the extra years in the offer to lower the AAV, but keep the total amount high. Soto was smart not to sign with all of that uncertainty. At this point the Nationals won’t be competitive until he is a free agent, so when they trade him he will get to be on a competitive team for 2.5 years, then can choose his next destination and be the highest paid baseball player.
rememberthecoop
Smart, maybe, unless he gets hurt or continues this minor decline he’s having this season so far. I say “minor” cuz the low BA is offset by the 40% OBP. And that kind of a decline would be a career year for most guys. Still, let’s say he doesn’t get hurt but next year instead of .250 he hits .230. Is he still going to get the highest AAV in history? Say what you want about BA, but keep in mind that Soto is not good defensively (-9 FG) and isn’t speedy. So his offense is everything.
JoeBrady
The OBP is high because they pitch around him. If you just took his core numbers, and projected 34.47 HRs with a .250 average, the interest wouldn’t be huge.
Thank_God_Im_Not_Tim_Dierkes
That’s blatantly dumb logic., Soto ran a 108 Walk to 132 SO ratio as a 20 year old in the season the Nationals won a World Series. The following year he was pacing to 125 Walks and 85 SO. Last year at 22, he had 145 Walks to 93 SO with only 23 IBB and 2 HBP, meaning without factoring in intentional bases on balls, he would have had 122 Walks to 93 SO, all while banging out 29 HRs. Soto may be a lot of things and struggle with parts of the game, but it isn’t bat control, plate awareness, or discipline. Those numbers would be good for a prime player, at the rate he’s going, he’ll be posting 150 Walks to 60 SO in his prime, which is why his bat should age nicely, let alone his awesome power which can take a step back and still be elite.
BeforeMcCourt
“Since there’s no reason for pitchers to pitch to him, we should ignore the fact he leads MLB in walks, then criticize him for not producing counting stats. I don’t care that his career OBP is higher than any other active major leaguer with 2000+ AB. Look at the dingerz!”
Wow Joe. Wow
stymeedone
When they do pitch to him, he’s hitting .240. That wasn’t elite when I was a kid, and it shouldn’t be treated as such today. He does have a good eye at the plate.
Buuba ho tep
Too much greed….
ralstar
I agree! The Lerner’s greed is disgusting. Worth billions and low-balling a superstar like that. Good for Soto to take a stand and tell ownership to shove it.
Jonthunder
Nice
badco44
Oh we passed greed awhile ago!
Animalize
@badco: You’re absolutely right. We’re way, WAY past just simple greed. People like Boras, most owners of sports franchises, even famous entertainers like, say, Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons, are sociopaths. More money is all they want and all they think about, 24-7, and it literally doesn’t matter to them one iota how they acquire it.
cubsmetsbrewers
Yes Juan Soto has a ring on his finger but so does Kurt Suzuki
HalosHeavenJJ
After several paragraphs of agent spin the truth is right there at the bottom, the average annual salary.
Let’s be real, that’s all that really matters here. Take the same figure and slice a few years off and Boras advises his client differently.
He needs new AAV records to use for future clients. Just like in real estate, establishing market comps is critical to future business
Appalachian_Outlaw
That’s one view. I don’t necessarily agree. Obviously the AAV is a factor because it’s too low for a contract of that length unless you’re giving Soto opt outs. We’re talking 15 years, though. I’m sure the uncertainty is a real fear. Once Soto puts pen to paper, he’s locked in for his career. The new owners could run on a shoestring budget or trade him somewhere he doesn’t want to go, and he’d be powerless. I don’t blame him for rejecting it.
nyfan
And Soto could suffer a career ending injury and still collect every penny. Much more risk to the team than the player.
pt57
A lot of contracts are insured against injury.
Animalize
@pt57: Are you under the impression that acquiring hundreds of millions of dollars worth of insurance is easy, and also cheap??! When a claim is paid out, often the team still loses millions. Often tens of millions.
stymeedone
Those insurance contracts are extremely expensive. Its not life insurance rates.
BeforeMcCourt
LMFAO. The people who assume this is about Boras’s ego!
Soto saw his teammate get 36M, coming from the same situation, with lesser pedigree. He intimately knows Rendon! He has the same agent. You really think Soto is only following for Boras’s ego!? He wants to beat his old teammate! Or at least match. Cmon
stymeedone
$440mm beats Rendon easily. 15 years beat Rendon easily.
redsfan20191
Hey, Steve when do you think the trade market will really get heated up?
Mystery Team
That’s a ton of money to pay for a guy who walks with runners in scoring position.
GP John
Better than one who strikes in with runners in scoring position!!
Jonny5
Strikes in? That’s a first.
ARC 2
let me sum it up. Boras want him to sign the biggest and longest contract ever. Don’t even think he will sign before becoming a free agent. Boras wants a $500 million deal.
GP John
Bigger commission
Jonthunder
That sounds a lot like Gallo, Hicks, and Florial better have their bags packed lol.
BeforeMcCourt
A Soto trade isn’t a “fix your problems” situation, buddy
Jonthunder
I’m just citing what the article said about ML-ready talent.
They are all major league ready.
Mario93
He’s absolutely insane to not accept the 15 year 450 million contract offer he got, or whatever it was. 440 million. Absolutely insane
Appalachian_Outlaw
He’ll easily eclipse that.
Captain Judge99
@Appalachian_Outlaw- hearing 12 years, $540 million, will definitely get it done. ($45 million annually)
DarkSide830
No one’s offering nearly that kuch annualy over 12 years. Look at the.other contracts given out recently for huge money. Heck, even the short-term high-aav deals don’t touch that.
Captain Judge99
@DarkSide830- yeah but are these contracts given to players that are stars at 23 years of age? How old will Soto be in 12 years? He’ll be 35 years old after finishing his 12th season. It’s definitely worth it if he can stay healthy.
Appalachian_Outlaw
He doesn’t necessarily need to top it in his first deal because of how young he is. So let’s say he plays out 2 ARB years and collects 50m, then he needs to beat 390m before his age 38 season. I think he easily gets at least the Lindor deal, plus a little just because that’s the nature of contracts. I’m thinking 10yrs/350m. By 2035, he’d only need to make about 40m over the next 3 seasons then. A decade into the future, that’s a fairly safe assumption if he stays healthy. The biggest thing will be if age catches up to him before, but his game isn’t really built on his legs. As long as he can still turn on a fastball, there will be money there.
slider32
Agreed, some teams like the Dodgers are making a lot more money than people think. Cohen set precedence with Scherzer. Teams now have streaming and next year they will have patches on their unis!
stymeedone
@App outlaw
” that’s a fairly safe assumption if he stays healthy.”
That he stays healthy is not a fairly safe assumption. Players get injured. That’s just a fact. Ripken was the exception. He can bet on himself, or take the guaranteed money. He will get injured. Its just a matter of when, and how badly.
Bobby smac9
Insanity? Who in the world would turn down that much? A player with his talent. MLB is on the doorstep of increasing it’s revenue by mega millions. Who can blame him for holding out? He’s in no way obligated or required to forgo the arbirtation process afforded by the CBA. Certainly a big risk on his part to be sure, but Soto is no doubt aware of the risks involved. He has every right to test free agency and not cave to pressure from any direction.
stymeedone
The Nationals have every right to trade his A$$, after seeing what he feels he “deserves”.
Buuba ho tep
How much money do you need . Over 400 million he passes up…insane
Captain Judge99
@buuba ho tep- Soto is going to easily get over 500 million when he signs. As crazy as that sounds. It’s definitely going to happen.
maxorange33
From what I’ve seen on what the projected returns are, it’d be tough to give back what the proposed talent/prospects are because it’s like 1 step forward, 2 steps back.
goastros123
I’m sure many teams would love to have Juan Soto, but the kind of package it would take + no guarantee he’d be interested in extending his contract with whatever team he is traded to (there’s also the fact the fact it’d take a lot of money) = I have no idea who would trade for him. Nationals might be asking for too much.
BigGarg
I know it’s hard for the casual baseball fan/McDonalds worker to fathom someone turning down 400+ mill, but the Nats lowballed him twice. He’s going to be a free agent at the age of 25 or 26, and could very well be the best player in baseball then. If anyone “deserves” to be the highest paid player of all time, it’s him. Plus 15 years is a long time. Who knows what the AAV will look like five years from now. That’s the number that matters.
I love how in any other profession, you’re smart for moving on and making as much money as possible, but when it’s sports you’re “greedy”. Anyone over the age of 12 should know it’s a business as much as a game. You worked your whole life to be in this position. Why would you not want to set you and future generations of your family up for life? It’s okay that Bill Gates does it, but not Juan Soto?
David Barista
I really don’t understand a 10 or 15yr contract in sports…. Maybe he should consider a counter that doesn’t extend beyond his age 30 season and be happy with a pay raise over his next two arbitration seasons…. these players don’t want the uncertainty of facing free agency in their 30s because so few of these long term contract actually work out…. Miguel Cabrera, Albert Pujols, Robinson Cano, Joey Votto, Prince Fielder… These bad contracts handcuff teams, but the it’s the agents negotiating the guaranteed years and money
Bobby smac9
@david….. and the teams keep lining up with contracts saying “sign here kid, I’ll make you a star”
David Barista
Can I add Jason Heyward, Chris Davis, Eric Hosmer, and Jacoby Ellsbury?
stymeedone
@big Garg
So $440MM would not set up his family for life? He could be the best player, or he could be the next Adam Dunn. Bad fielder, clogs the bases, hits .240 with power, walks a good amount, and should be a dh. Not what I want to be paying the big money for in 10 years, let alone 15.
GriffeyJrFan
It insane. It’s 15 years which puts the AAV lower. So if you are at work, do you take the best deal or do you work for less than you can earn. He does walk a lot now, for two reasons, he has a good eye and they don’t pitch to him with that lineup. That won’t work in the Yankees, dodgers, Mets lineup
wehgoodeh
Soto drew 108 walks in 2019 in a Nats lineup that was 2nd in the league in runs and OPS. He also has a career 0.968 OPS so does more than fine when he get a pitch to hit. Not sure what argument you’re trying to make here.
David Barista
At some point, the Nationals will need to take what they can get…. There is a limited market of teams competing for championships that truly want/need 2.5yrs of Soto…. And an even smaller market amongst those teams that can afford to meet what seems like an absurd asking price from the Nationals…. I don’t think he gets traded this year because Washington will be in a position to hold out for more in a trade return
Appalachian_Outlaw
Uh… for the right price, every team in baseball would want Juan Soto for 2 1/2 years. That’s not a small window. The only question is who can meet the ask. I could see a team no one expects getting involved here.
David Barista
At what cost to the future and present does it take to acquire Soto? It’s the asking price that is creating a limited market.
NickyNoodles
I honestly think he’ll go to the Mets. Inter-divisional doesn’t matter. The Mets have the prospects/talent, they also have MLB players such as Dom Smith and JD Davis. Steve Cohen is trying to put his stamp on NY, and MLB in general. Cohen doesn’t care about money. He’ll spend more than Steinbrenner from the 90s, if need be.
dclivejazz
Dom Smith and JD Davis are having crappy seasons with the Mets. Why would the Nats trade away a generational player for the likes of them? The Mets are going to have to offer a lot better players and or strong prospects than that.
Captain Judge99
@NickyNoodles- If an extension is involved why would he want to go to the Mets? When they’re not his preference. That doesn’t make any sense really. It will likely be the Dodgers or the Yankees.
NickyNoodles
How do you know the Mets aren’t his preference? Have you seen his interactions with Lindor, Marte and Diaz? He’s very good friends with Lindor. The Mets are not the Mets of old. They’re playoff bound, have young talent and are positioned to compete in the East, and NL, for years to come. Cohen has the money to extend him and give him the contract he wants. Yanks and Dodgers are certainly possibilities but don’t count out the Mets by any means. The Yanks have bigger contracts to give for Judge (assuming they want to keep him long term).
David Barista
I think it’s fair to assume an extension isn’t involved in any trade with any team
tbonenats
David B — I agree. The Nats are not going to grant an extension window. They will tell teams that their extension window is 2.33 years after they trade for him.
holycowdude
Crazy talk. Dom Smith and JD Davis are non-starters in Soto talks even if they agreed to take on Strasburg’s AND Corbin’s salaries. More like Baty, Luciano, and the Mets top 2 arms in their farm system.
NickyNoodles
I could see the Mets offering Davis/Smith, Mauricio, Ramirez, Lee and Vientos in offering to take Corbin’s contract along with Soto
Jonthunder
How does trading an all-world talent to your division rival not matter? People keep bringing up schedule balance, because Soto wouldn’t be hurting the Mets for 19 games/year.
Guess what? He would be helping them win for 162 games/year, and the Braves are already stacked.
Is the plan to punt, every year, and give fans no hope. Also, the Marlins are getting better, too.
It matters.
Shrutefarm
Sounds like this is really starting to turn into a circus in D.C.
They’re already bad….with him in there everyday.
They’re already low in attendance…….with him in there everyday.
Trade him now and get as much as you can. The sooner you start the complete rebuild and get beyond this drama, the sooner you can begin to get competitive again.
solaris602
I couldn’t agree more. Nats should announce that all final offers are due by 9:00am on 8/1, and the best deal will be selected by close of business. Move on from there. If teams choose to lowball them, it’s to their detriment.
mak_dc
Two other guys who walked a lot: Ted Williams and Barry Bonds.
JoeBrady
Two other guys who walked a lot: Ted Williams and Barry Bonds.
===============================
Bonds ISO was .309
Williams ISO was .289
Soto’s ISO is .248
The walks certainly matter, but if you have a high OPS because of walks, what happens when they start pitching to you?
dclivejazz
Spare me, Boris.
I agree that one of the biggest factors at play here is the uncertainty regarding the ownership of the Nats (for which, naturely, the owners are at fault). But the Nats had been negotiating in earnest anyway. If Soto and Boris don’t want to accept the largest salary in MLB history, fine. Just don’t pretend it doesn’t possibly force the Rizzo’s hand to some extent.
sufferforsnakes
I still think he’s older than 23.
BaseballClassic1985
I was watching the All-Star game with my brother, who is only a casual fan, and I asked him how old he thought Soto was. He thought he was in his 30s.
I agree, I don’t believe he’s 23, either. He’s at least 5 years older than that.
David Barista
I think he looks like a baby…. Certainly plays like a grown ass man tho… LOL
Captain Judge99
@David Barista- Lol! Yeah I wouldn’t say that to his face though.
SportsFan0000
At some point, Boras and his clients will reach the limit of what a handful of teams will pay
one player….Don’t think we are there yet.
But, every young player with above average stats will now want 400M or 500M.
I don’t see how these kinds of contracts are sustainable long term.
Shrutefarm
Funfact – In April, Bob Nightengale reported/tweeted, that at the beginning of the 2022 season, there were 5 players this season that were going to earn more than the entire Oakland A’s payroll and almost as much as the Oriole’s payroll. All 5 players are Scott Boras clients.
YankeesBleacherCreature
They’re sustainable bc fans keeping feeding the MLB machine so teams can keep printing money. I’d make a wager that these nine-figure deals will continue to rise in value indefinitely.
CujoMarlin
I’m so tired of the “the owner is rich, they should give the player(s) whatever they want” argument.
David Barista
I couldn’t agree more with this…. one individual player doesn’t bring a team success, yet one bad contract sure can handcuff a team from being successful… All for Soto or whomever getting paid, but stop with the 10 year contracts!
rediceten
The Nationals hold more leverage here than they’re being given credit for. They have 2 more years of control no matter what. They can sit back and wait on an offer they like. Obviously that offer will diminish as they burn their time currency but time is on their side still. Fast forward 2 years to the trade deadline and he will still command a ridiculous return.
David Barista
100 percent! Guarantee they hold out on a trade… Nobody is meeting the current asking price or allowing the Nationals to maintain that leverage in any negotiations. Eventually they will need to take what they can get…. And I agree that it would still be a good return at the deadline in his free agency season
Central Valley
As a Giants fan, you have to really tip your hat to the Dodgers and their farm system.
They seem to never run out of top MLB ready prospects, all the while always in the mix for obtaining/signing top tier talent.
Big whiffa
Prospect lists are based upon fan bases and not talent as mucb. That’s why Yankees and dodgers always have a ton of top prospects that fizzle out
Shrutefarm
Which teams don’t have a ton of top prospects fizzle out?
Prospect lists are created by MLB scouts, data, etc. Not created based on fan bases.
btw, Corey Seager, Will Smith, Walker Buehler, Cody Bellinger, Julio Urias, Gavin Lux, Tony Gonsolin, Dustin May, Joc Pederson all say hello.
Gavin Stone, Miguel Vargas, Michael Busch, Ryan Pepiot, Bobby Miller, and Diego Cartaya say “see you soon”
Jonthunder
This is ridiculous; prospect rankings have nothing to do with fanbases.
Captain Judge99
I definitely feel a Soto trade is perfect for the Yankees with Judge. It gives the Yankees leverage. If Judge wants over $40 million a year for 8 years, he’s basically a goner. No big deal they’ll have Soto who is better. If Judge leaves I believe he will be going to the San Francisco Giants.
Central Valley
Makes total sense, it’s either the Dodgers or Yankees.
tbonenats
I agree. Yankees are in an ideal spot to trade for Soto. Just depends if Cashman is willing to part with something like Volpe, Dominguez, Periera, Arias and Serena. I’m guessing since Yankees don’t have a lot of dispensable MLB young pieces they might have to part with 5 prospects instead of 3ish.
stymeedone
Yes, Soto walks more than Judge. He’s also slower, hits fewer home runs, lower Batting average, can’t play CF. Obviously better (hyped/more expensive)!
Redwolves3
Boras will use Giants as a bargaining ploy but Soto will not be traded to Giants. If Soto is traded look for the Dodgers to swoop in, be creative, and get Soto.
Central Valley
I unfortunately agree. Dodgers are are loaded up with young superstars, adding Soto would be absolutely insane. Freeman, Betts, Turner, Soto, Kershaw, etc… jerseys will be flying off the racks there.
Giants will be used as always. Stanton, Harper, now Soto.
Central Valley
The Nationals should move Soto sooner rather than later, correct? They can’t risk a major injury to Soto, as his value is as high as it’s going to be?
Bobby smac9
The Nationals need ample time to scout prospective return players. Waiting until the off-season would allow them the opportunity to judge another team’s talent. Otherwise they risk not getting the best possible return. It would also give the negotiations with Boras some breathing room and clearer heads to prevail.
Tom Price
Soto’s going to the Mets. Book it.
BaseballClassic1985
I certainly hope so. Him and Lindor will cripple the franchise with those contracts.
madmanTX
You misspelled Rangers.
Captain Judge99
@Tom Price- book that you really don’t know what the hell your talking about, in your delusional state of mind. Smh
You Can Put It In The Books
@Tom Price
Booked.
Don’t pay attention to Judge. He thinks he has “sources”.
Captain Judge99
@You Can Put It In The Books- you no nothing about me, or my sources. I guess trolling does it for you? If not why don’t you take a hike. I guess all the middle schools are all closed so you’re bored now with nothing to do.
BaseballClassic1985
Juan Soto hasn’t proved anything in his 5 seasons other than he is a good hitter. Am I the only one not buying this “all-time talent/player” nonsense? He is also not a top defender and is already, at 23, a plodding baserunner.
Giving this guy a huge extension is a sucker’s bet. I really don’t care who is foolish enough to give it to him, as long as it’s not the Yankees. Caveat emptor
thatdudetg
The argument can also be “at just the age of 23, Soto has the ability to still improve his fielding and baserunning to enhance his value as one of the games best hitters.”
D24
Agree. I like him and he’s a great player. But he’s hitting .250 this year. He is on pace for like 38 homers. Why pay $500 million or more for a guy whose primary value at the moment appears to be his ability to walk a lot? I get that his OBP is great, but for that money, he better be hitting 45+ homers a year and hitting .320 or better. Look at Miggy, Trout, Pujols, etc…none of them hit .250 in their 5th year.
Possible that he raises his average 50 or 60 points in the second half, but I’m not betting on it.
BaseballClassic1985
Fans, writers and front offices are obsessed with walks these days. Walks aren’t a bad thing, but for that kind of money, he needs to be getting a lot more base hits and driving in a ton more runners.
Soto has never had more than 157 hits in a season, yet he’s “an all-time talent”/”generational” player. Hyperbole on comment boards and in the media are absurd these days.
tbonenats
Lol…that stat is meaningless when you walk as much as Soto. Who has been the best hitter since 1980? I’d say Bonds and he only had 3 seasons in his whole career with more than 157 hits.
TexasLeaguer
Mets and Braves are automatically out. Yankees have to decide if they want to subtract from their current roster and give up top prospects. Nats want MLB ready talent. Still seems like a non playoff contender will end up with Soto. Money is on Giants, rangers, or Cubs.
slider32
I think Cashman decides that he can win it all with Falefa at SS. Yanks have enough good young pitching to trade away a starter like Montegomery or Cortes for Soto. They can put Geyber in the deal since they have DJ. They can offer other prospects to seal the deal.
badco44
Did I hear someone say greed? Scott Boros is at the head of the line… and I don’t think the Mets can out bid a few other teams like SD with prospects. End of story
BaseballClassic1985
God, I hope the Padres trade for Soto. It would ruin their franchise for the next decade. Just keep him away from the Yankees
Captain Judge99
@BaseballClassic1985- yes trading for Juan Soto is definitely an option for the Friars now. But there is no absolute guarantee that he will sign an extension with them though, especially with preference’s of where he wants to go.
goastros123
But you don’t know what he preferences are.
Captain Judge99
@goastros123-I absolutely do know who his preferences are. I mentioned on mlb trade rumors before where to go for that. I’m not going to repeat it.
goastros123
@Captain Judge99 – Except, no, you didn’t, and, no, you don’t. It doesn’t matter if you repeat yourself or not because you’re wrong either way.
Captain Judge99
@goastros123- no I do boss. And I really could care less about how you feel to be quite honest with you. Believe what you want to believe. You’ll find out shortly where his preferences were. No team wants Soto for only 2.5 years. Smh
goastros123
@Captain Judge99 – No, boss, you don’t and I don’t feel like you’re wrong: I KNOW you’re wrong. After all, I scroll up and down on the comment section of this article and you didn’t at all share where you found his preferences. That’s how I know you’re going off of speculation and speculation only. That’s how I know you don’t actually know. That and not a single sports news site says he wants prefers the Dodgers or Yankees. It could be reported after he is traded that he prefered them (assuming he goes to neither team), but that won’t be the “I told you so” you think it is for two reasons: 1. at this moment in time, you have no evidence to share to back up your claim about his preferences and 2. you’re not in his inner circle so you don’t know what he’s thinking beyond what is reported. As for no one wanting Soto for 2.5 years, you might want to change your screen name to “Captain Obvious99”: no one wants him because of what it would take to get him aka giving every single prospect you have that is worth anything. Try again, bud.
Captain Judge99
@goastros123- with all that said. I don’t have to share my source with you. That doesn’t mean I don’t have one though. Why don’t you do your homework and find out yourself tough guy? No reason to get so salty either. Grow up bud. I do like the Captain Obvious 99 though. Thanks for the laugh on a rainy day.
goastros123
@Captain Judge99 – You’re biggest the reason why I know you have no source: you claimed to have shared it on here already so where is it. I don’t see it. That and you’re unwillingness to share said source. To be honest, I have nothing to be salty about. After all, I did my homework: not a single article talks about his preference or backs up your claim in the slightest. If you share your source, I’ll gladly admit I was wrong. Otherwise, you got nothing and it shows. Enjoy the double-header, bud. Have a good one.
TexasLeaguer
Padres have been looking to unload bad contacts for years (Myers, Hosmer, now snell). They can’t take on Corbin’s contract and get Soto.
thatdudetg
It’s sounding more and more like Soto will end up in Texas. The Rangers have the prospects, they have the financial flexibility, they have a bright future, and they have the history with Boras clients.
Even if the Rangers offer a package of:
INF Ezequiel Duran: MLB Top 100 Prospect (36)
2B Justin Foscue: MLB Top 100 Prospect (61)
RHP Cole Winn MLB Top 100 Prospect (79)
RHP Owen White: MLB Top 100 Prospect (96)
INF Luisangel Acuna Rangers #10 Prospect
CF Leody Taveras (MLB)
The Rangers will still have Jack Leiter (16) Josh Jung (30) Cole Regans, and newly drafted Kumar Rocker and Brock Porter (assuming he signs).
Paolo1900
Then ask for a “no questions asked” out-clause option after the team is sold.
Nothing
Jays need to jump on this. Bichette, Hernandez, Moreno, tiedemann and Pearson for Moreno. Who says no?
bighiggy
More”no” maybe lol. I wouldn’t want to be traded for myself. J/k
JoeBrady
The Jays do.
Old York
Soto needs an agreement where he can opt-out every year. Put up big numbers and opt out for even more cash. If it doesn’t work, he is still guaranteed big money.
dirkg
Baseball has an image problem. A huge star (that very few people out of the sport know, but should) is about to leave our nations capital for one of only 2 destinations that can afford him: New York or LA. The news story should be about him winning the home run derby. Yet it’s about his contract. We don’t hear from the player, we don’t know the player, yet we hear from Scott Boras. Scott Boras is the everyday name here. Quick: who’s Tom Brady’s agent? I had to Google it. Don Yee.
Juan Soto should be a household name. MLB needs to make him a household name. Embrace his broken English. Even if these guys struggle with communication, look at Shohei. Everyone knows his interpreter Ippei.
The best thing Boras can do for his clients and MLB is to stay in the background. But he won’t.
Tom Brady makes just as much AAV money as a Tampa Bay Buccaneer than he did as a New England Patriot. Imagine an MLB player making the same AAV amount as a Tampa Bay Ray versus a Red Sox contract.
Baseball not only has an image problem, but also a distribution problem. And Lord knows the face to the media, Scott Boras, is not helping.
NostraThomas
Different rules in different sports. Apple’s and wrenches.
ChuckyNJ
Word! Too many dumb “sports fans” think one sport equals another.
dirkg
You nailed it Chucky. I’m a dumb sports fan.
The NFL is second to none (even better than the NBA) at marketing their players. MLB is terrible at it. There’s an easy correlation there. Apples to apples on athletes holding value to corporations and to the general public.
Juan Soto needs to be marketed.
YankeesBleacherCreature
@dirkg MLB tried that route with Mike Trout and he turned them down. He likes being a weatherman more in his off-time. In the 90s, MLB did a pretty good job marketing names like Ripken Jr. and Griffey Jr. but has since fell flat. Vladdy Jr. is also another good name but he plays in Canada.
DaOldDerbyBastard
Stop guessing where he’s gonna go. Yankees fans already know. He wants to be a Yankee and all they have to give up is Gallo. Their prospects are too valuable to trade.
thatdudetg
And thanks to the Yankees giving up those prospects for Gallo. The Rangers can now flip them for Soto.
cars
Evidently Juan Soto is not going to want to play for the Cubs.
Some good low minor league players, but no big name future star minor leaguers. Cubs lack MLB ready prospects. 3 years away from competing.
TexasLeaguer
@cars
Steele, Thompson, Hoerner, Morel on current roster. They could take Happ and flip him next year for more prospects. Doesn’t include Brennan Davis or Killian. Cubs have plenty to offer.
NostraThomas
I think this is posturing overall. Boars is going to talk up his guy and get him to a bigger market, so it increases his visibility. The Dodgers don’t need an outfielder, the Yankees do but they have valued defense a lot more since last season. Soto doesn’t fit that. He stays right where he is until the offseason, either this one or next.
kylegocougs
Not wanting to play for a ghost owner makes sense, what if someone like the Wilpons buy Washington
Bruin1012
I really think the Dodgers will get this guy if a trade happens before the deadline. They have the prospect capital to make it happen. They are much deeper in capital then most of the other teams. Will they pay the freight maybe but the reality he is a Dodger if they really want him.
I also think it is much more likely he is traded this offseason then by the deadline.
pt57
Boras is probably right about new ownership, and Olney is wrong.
Why would a new owner not want the opportunity to keep or trade the Nat’s best asset?
Henry Silvestre
13 days all this chattered will be over
rememberthecoop
Look, Soto is great. But something I never hear people talk about is that he is poor defensively and doesn’t help you on the basepaths. So he’s one dimensional. Now, that one dimension is pretty damn good. Still…
D24
This needs to be a 3-team trade. If I’m the Nats, I can’t trade him fast enough (for a good return). The team sucks, no one goes – so just having Soto by himself does nothing for you. Trade him for 6 guys, 3 of them will become longtime MLB players and hopefully a couple of them become stars and help you win.
But you don’t want to trade for 6 prospects all from the same team – you want to get 3 from one team and 3 from another or something like that. Most teams’ top 6 prospects aren’t all going to end up being good. But your odds improve if you’re taking the top prospects from two different teams and their #3 and #4 guys, or something like that.
Brew’88
Im abstaining from commenting on Soto rumors today….wait, I just blew it. Make that tomorrow.
Msteele
Do you think the derby was a smoke show to get Soto name all over boards and channels. Ironically we say these things when someone at his age tho a decent hitter looks to project poorly defensively.
This is where Trout is out of this world. And I’ll give judge better props than Soto. Soto will get his money but he is not top-5…yes top 10
Trout
Betts
Ohtanei
Judge
Correa
Harper
Soto
Vladdy Jr
Acuna
Tatis *healthy
Dodger Dog
Soto is 23 years old. He should hit his peak in half a decade when everyone else on this list is in their decline phase.
JoeBrady
He’s probably already peaked. Peaking is generally a matter of physical development plus experience to recognize certain pitches/pitchers. Some guys are fully developed at age 22, and Soto has probably seen every different type of pitch he will ever likely see.
Dustyslambchops23
Agree with this.
bigfatandugly
everyone? vlad and tatis are the same age as soto. acuna is 24.
JoeBrady
You might want to add Alvarez. He’s injury-prone, but looking at my roto stats, he is a much better hitter than Soto.
Past that quibble, that’s what I don’t get. This is not like Mike Trout a few years back, where he was easily the best player in BB, with no close #2. Soto isn’t close to Ohtani. Soto is a marginally better hitter, but not as good a baserunner, and Ohtani is a great pitcher.
Soto is younger, so you can give him more years, but if I were starting a team, there are certainly other guys I would go with. Julio Rod has a higher bWAR and is 2 years younger. Tatis has a similar OPS+ from 2019-2021, and plays SS.
Msteele
Good points. Just seems like this is going to be an overpay and a team will look back and see who they gave up on now mashes and/gets punchies.
Soto lacks leadership. I know still young but with the contract he is going to be demanded to lead. This is of course he isn’t paired with a Betts or another s leader. Like A Rod and Jeter. But Soto I see more Robin than Batman.
Wowwwwww
Juan Soto has to be one of the dumbest people on the planet. It’s 440 million, you don’t turn that down, ever. Who cares if you don’t know your boss it’s 440 mil. Plus managers, coaches, gms change all the time anyway. I hope this greedy dude tears his acl or gets arrested. Anything to destroy his value. Egotistical idiot.
DaOldDerbyBastard
Real classy.
Dodger Dog
Nightmare scenario, Strasberg waives his no trade to go home to San Diego when the Pads take his contract w Soto.
Captain Judge99
@Dodger Dog- No worries nobody’s trading for an Injured Stephen Strasburg. Maybe an ineffective Patrick Corbin, but not for an injured Strasburg. He’d rather sign an extension with the Dodgers, rather then the Friars anyway.
mike156
If Soto wants to gamble on his talent and health, why not? He’s already going to make generational wealth just over the two arb seasons,,,,
Louholtz22
Bad move made by current Nats ownership. Why did you offer a contract to Soto when Boras is his agent? Don’t compound it by trading him. Let the new ownership have a crack at signing him or trading him for what they want. Being stuck with Corbin and Strasburg’s huge salaries creates more complications.
JoeBrady
They are finishing last with or without Soto, so imo, all that matters is what place do they want to finish in 2025-2030.
Cap & Crunch
This won’t happen till the offseason, those new picks will certainly help all the teams offers
Rsox
It’s interesting that so many people believe Soto is 100% New York bound as if the 27 other teams shouldn’t even bother.
Captain Judge99
@Rsox- it really has nothing to do with that. It has to do with who he will sign an extension with. Basically what teams are his preference to be traded to. Let’s face it, if you got to give up 4 prospects in your farm system you want to make sure you have Soto a lot longer then 2.5 years. That’s called covering yourself.
Rsox
Well, more to the point New York isn’t the only destination willing to spend if the player is right.
If we are being honest there is zero chance the Yankees can afford Soto, Stanton, Cole, and Judge which means either A) letting Judge walk (or more likely pursuing Soto if Judge does sign elsewhere) or B) unloading Stanton’s contract, which is likely going to be difficult since its unlikely he waives his no-trade clause for anyone other than the Dodgers.
Do the Mets might be able to swing something, but then the Nats may not want that coming back to bite them 12 times a year while the current regime is in place.
The spectre of the Dodgers will loom large over any discussions. The Astros have prospects and money, the Cubs or White Sox cannot be ruled out. The Mariners have prospects and money as well. The Red Sox may be on the fringes with the Cubs and White Sox but shouldn’t be ruled out. There are a lot of other options than just New York
TommyLasutton
the Mets have the prospects to get it done. Empty the clip (prospects 1-6) + take all of Corbin’s contract. Like someone said: it’d only be Year 1 of penalties? And you get 3 solid years of being favorites. Hell throw in Peterson AND Megill for that. Man like Stevie can BUY the Dominican Republic and monopolize the baseball factory, so why hold on to prospects?
Win Cor
The Cardinals are the best match even if Walker is not part of the package. With Gorman. and Carlson and 2 -3 top prospects like Liberatore and Mcreevy., even Burleson .you have the foundation of a solid Nationals team for 2023 and beyond
Jesse Cook
As a Cardinals fan, I truly believe they will not get involved in the Soto derby. They will not offer the kind of money and years it would take to resign him when he becomes a free agent, plus there is no guarantee he would want to resign in St. Louis even if they decide to offer what he wants. Just my opinion, it wouldn’t be a very wise decision to include Jordan Walker and or Nolan Gorman in any potential deal for Soto at this time, no matter how much of a once in a generational player he is considered to be by many, unless they can get him to agree to an extension before pulling the trigger on a trade.
ASapsFables
If the “Nationals are going to want Major League-ready talent to headline a return” for Juan Soto, as Buster Olney suggests, this potentially puts the White Sox higher up in the sweepstakes. The ChiSox currently lack the prospect talent to compete with other contenders for Soto but they certainly have some very attractive young MLB ready talent who have graduated to their big league club and have been major contributors to their success over the past few years. Soto’s elite left-handed bat could be the final piece of the White Sox championship puzzle.
Central Valley
The Giants could do this, but they’d have to include Logan Webb. Not sure they’d ever consider it though, Webb is a young, cheap #1.
LouWhitakerHOF
Imagine the big improvement on numbers for Soto if he goes from a pitchers park to that hitters park with the Yankees. Don’t believe me just look at Judge’s home/away splits.
slider32
AL East has all hitters parks and guys like Judge and Stanton can hit the ball out of any park anywhere!
Jake1972
Boras is full of it!
1. Yes, it would be wonderful to have Soto as a building block if I am a buyer of the Nationals but if he ain’t there then the haul the former ownership got should be something that would make the team I am buying competitive in a few years.
2. Boras believe he can hit that Five Hundred Million mark with Soto, and he will most likely get it, but is Soto really worth handcuffing the Nationals for the next Fifteen years with a contract that will not age well?
Final Note:
Bora is full of it in my opinion and he is just wanting that big paycheck which is what he does but don’t lie or spin that a future owner will pull out if Soto is not part of the team or if Soto will want to be on the Nationals once it is sold because what this is really about is National Exposure and fame, so Soto want the best City and Team that will give him what he need which would be New York, Chicago, Boston and L.A., so let be truthful and not lie like Boras just did!
scottaz
“With the annual amateur draft and All-Star Game now in the rearview mirror, what figures to be a frenzied and condensed summer trade market will be up and running.“. This web site of course wants this to be the case, but I wonder if we will all be disappointed?
Terry B
Probably ends up a Yankee, Dodger or Met! I’m a Dodger fan, I personally would pass on adding Soto, Dodgers have plenty hitters, their rotation and bullpen could use some upgrades and it’s not a smart move to deplete your Farm AND pay ONE guy 500 mil.
Simm
That Corbin contract is soooo bad. Hard to see any team taking 100% of it and then trading a bunch of real prospects.
As great as Soto is,no matter what team you are is such a bad deal.
Let’s say Soto arb years 17m this year. 24m next year and 30m in 2024.
Add that with Corbin deal and you are paying this annually.
This year 24+17= 41m. Like 18m prorated
Next year 23m+24m= 47m
Year after 35+30= 65m
Plus Corbin still has 10m in deferred left.
Corbin isn’t even a 5th starter on a good team. Dude has a 5+ Era over 4 yes 4 years. So you are paying more then Soto will get as a free agent the next 3 years and they want elite prospects as well.
I dont see even the richest owners and or teams doing that.
He will be traded without Corbin or the Nats will eat a bunch of corbins contract.
Or lastly the prospects coming back won’t be all that high end.
Trading for Soto and Corbin, taking on all the money and giving up elite prospects is just a bad baseball deal for anyone.
mookie1
All you haters are hysterical. Do you know what CEO’s and celebrities make? Soto is one of the best in the world at something that generates revenue. He will make more than $440 million, and choose where he plays. Even if he gets hurt or slumps, someone will pay him more. In 15 years there will be dozens of players making $40 million per year.
Poster formerly known as . . .
“Could not be happier that Soto told Lerner where to go. Trying to pay below market value and trying to make the player look greedy, by an owner worth over $4 billion shows what a sad family the Lerners are.”
This is where the Nats ranked in Opening Day payroll over the last 10 years:
2022: 19th
2021: 9th
2020: 12th
2019: 7th
2018: 5th
2017: 9th
2016: 6th
2015: 6th
2014: 9th
2013: 12th
So in seven of 10 seasons they ranked in the top ten in payroll. Meanwhile, D.C. ranks 9th in sports TV market size:
sportsmediawatch.com/nba-market-size-nfl-mlb-nhl-n…
What’s more MASN is co-owned by the Nats and Orioles, who split the revenue, and who’ve been in a contentious relationship for years.
If you think these owners are spending their own money to fund these teams, guess again. The only one I’m aware of who dug into his own pockets to acquire a star player was Mr. Ilich, late owner of the Tigers and Red Wings. If you want to gripe about cheap owners, cast your gaze toward Oakland, where John Fisher, the billionaire GAP heir, runs the A’s on a shoestring and whines that the taxpayers should fund his for-profit enterprise. His A’s play in the 6th-largest TV market.
Additionally, complaining that the massive salary the Lerners offered Soto is “below market” is ridiculous. The vast majority of long-term contracts burn the team eventually.
YankeesBleacherCreature
@Fink Well done! You need to start your own NYY blog site. I feel the research you always do and post here is under-served and unappreciated.
Poster formerly known as . . .
Thanks, my friend, but I try (unsuccessfully) to budget my time-wasting, and a blog would blow those efforts to hell. But I do appreciate your appreciation a lot.
goastros123
John Fisher is so cheap the A’s tried to fly out Paul Blackburn, the A’s only all-star, on a commercial flight. The Astros offered to let him fly with them on their charter and he accepted. Winning starts at the top and it doesn’t seem like Fisher cares about winning.
Poster formerly known as . . .
I think that’s a fair statement.
Even from a monetary standpoint, I think a cheapskate owner like him is his own worst enemy.
There’s an article currently up on Yahoo! about the huge boost in profits that the Yankees franchise is enjoying as a result of winning on the field.
yahoo.com/now/yankees-wins-power-yes-network-21480…
noquarter89
It’s bigger than not caring about winning, he’s deliberately trying to lose. He’s literally running a Major League to try to get a new stadium. Rachel Phelps would be proud.
flamingbagofpoop
I don’t think you can compare the yankees and A’s, though. Even when the A’s are good, they still don’t sell out. It’s different markets. Size of market is only 1 factor in determining revenue potential.
Armaments216
The Nationals’ opening day payroll is falling because they deferred so much of their player salaries over the past decade. They’re still paying a ton of deferred money to Max Scherzer, plus backloaded money to Corbin and Strasburg, and even still have deferred money owed to Brad Hand and Rafael Soriano.
I think the terms of the MASN deal are still tied up in litigation. Depending on the outcome, if it’s ever resolved, the Nationals may get much less than half the TV revenue.
JackStrawb
Armaments216 for purposes of the CBT, the Nats payroll is down to $16om this year. They’re not getting killed by deferred money and balloon payments, though it’s not helping. They’re choosing not to put payroll $50m higher.
Armaments216
The Nationals have no looming issues at all with the CBT. The deferred money that’s coming due was already counted against previous year CBT totals. So yes, they have plenty of room under the CBT threshold.
Their 2022 cash outlays are quite a bit higher than their 2022 CBT payroll. That will continue to be true for the next several years. Unless they add some new, backloaded contracts.
JackStrawb
Not arguing, just asking: Can you point me to a site that lists these cash outlays? Deferred payments, for example, get counted by sites such as Cot’s towards the CBT, as does pretty much everything else that players receive from teams, pro rated for the duration of contract, typically. Thanks,
Armaments216
Spotrac has the deferred payments under its multi year team payroll. I think the CBT pay is based on the total contract value divided evenly across the playing years.
GarryHarris
Next franchise up for an anchor contract.
I get why buying a MLB franchise is not what smart people do. The Nationals and Tigers are for sale with no buyers.
Poster formerly known as . . .
The Lerners’ ownership group bought the Nats for $450 million in 2006. With inflation, $450 million in 2006 equates to roughly $625 million in 2022 dollars. Forbes puts the current value of the franchise at $2 billion.
Still think buying the team wasn’t smart?
GarryHarris
They purchased the team 15 years ago. The next buyers won’t get any return from that approximate $2B.
noquarter89
I don’t buy Onley’s logic here. Why on earth wouldn’t a prospective buyer want the chance to decide for themselves what to do with Soto?
Poster formerly known as . . .
I think it’s at least equally likely that the new owners would want the Lerners to take the PR hit and absorb the anger from the fans for trading him. If that gets done before the new owners take over, they’re spared the pressure to sink a half-billion dollars into their investment soon after the purchase, and they can build up the team more economically in Soto’s absence. I think Olney’s probably right.
Ga
The easy fix: no more oligarchs controlling teams. Taxpayers pay for all these stadiums and all the infrastructure. Owners — like in Baltimore, Tampa, Oakland, etc — blackmail cities/regions into giving them free cash. The Rays oligarchs want 250 million from taxpayers to pay for half a stadium when they bought the whole team for 350 mil! So, simple. If taxpayers are going to pay, taxpayers/cities/regions should OWN. Works for Packers. Fans/cities/regions hire the GM, GM puts together the team. No taking taxpayer cash to “rebuild”, buy English soccer teams, TV stations or politicians. All of these nut/criminal oligarchs go away to grift people on Wall Street and leave our national sport alone.
JackStrawb
@Ga Bravo!
max l
As a Nats fan, I’m already preparing myself for him to be leaving. The last Nats OF that won the home run derby left in the offseason, of course the team won the World Series the next year so there’s that.. Despite what people on here, in the media, and on social media might say, they really don’t have to trade him now, he’s signed through 2024 so even if they can’t extend him, they still have this offseason, and the 2023 off season and of course during each of the next 2 seasons, though the closer to 2024 if and when he gets traded, the return gets smaller. I think he goes in the offseason for 2 reasons:
1) More teams will be in play; the Cubs as an example would have no reason to go for him now when they are cooked for this season, but in the off season they definitely could and
2) More teams are more likely to trade off their major league roster.
The Cards for example may trade some or any combination of Edman/O’Neil/Carlson/Libertore/Nootbaar but there’s no way they are trading out of that group during the season. The Padres I think are the only team that will take a chunk off their major league roster: Abrams/Gore/Cronenworth/Hassel (not in the majors) would be a good start, and the Cronenworth loss would be negated by the return of Tatis, if he ever comes back.
IF Soto does go during the season, I think it’s only to the Mariners or Padres. They IMO, are the only two teams that have the desperation + prospect capital + go for it GM’s that would pull the trigger and meet the absurd asking price.
JackStrawb
The prospects teams should be willing to pay shouldn’t come close to the deranged demands the Nationals appear to have.
They’re surely aware that, say as of the coming offseason, Soto provides about 5-6 rWAR as either a subpar corner OFer, or a DH. That’s about $50m in surplus value over and above his salary, or what a second-tier top prospect is worth.
He offers nowhere near the surplus value of even one top prospect, such as Guerrero, Jr., who has already put up that value in the equivalent of three full seasons of 600 PA each. Granted we know Guerrero’s outcome to this point, which makes it simpler, but this is what was projected for Vlad—and if the Jays had traded for Soto they’d likely be having substantial regrets given that Guerrero still has 3.5 seasons left with the Jays but has already put up what you can expect from Soto in 2023-2024 combined.
The proposals involving something like a teams’ #1, 2, 3 and 5 prospects are just absurdities.
tbonenats
But for every Vlad and Soto and Harper that meet or exceed projections there are guys like Drabek, Matusz, Beckham, Starling, Turner, Maitan, Singleton, Miller, Jackson, Shipley, Kelly…and so many more that fall well short.
chip1017
I think the Yankees get this done. I believe they feel burnt by Judge, and that is fair. The fan base won’t except Judge leaving and not getting Soto. However, I believe they play hardball with Soto for his 2.5 years left. He will come off that 15 year pipe deal, but his annual pay will compete with Trout/Rendon/Lindor etc. Also, there are some untouchables in Yanks Farm. Soto/Washington have to be realistic as well.
Poster formerly known as . . .
” I believe they feel burnt by Judge, and that is fair.”
Why is that fair?
Whiskey and leather balls
Find it very amusing that some yanks fans take them saying Volpe is untouchable to mean exactly that. Everything has a price
Rsorrow641
I guess if you want to pay 500 million and give up the farm for this guy then go ahead. The Braves have Acuna for 10 years for 124 million. Albies for 45 million for 9 years and Olsen for 162 million for 8 years. This leaves the money available to keep Max Fried, Danby Swanson and Austin Riley for years to come….Plus how many teams would choose Soto over Acuna??
Ed "The Mythical One"
Offer to player: $440,000,000
Player: “Nah.”
Fans: “Done.”
This should be the breaking point. A guy is TURNING DOWN….440 MILLION DOLLARS to play a game.
I’ve been done with all versions of major sports for years now, but if I hadn’t already made that decision based on all of the horrible other things going on with them, this would have been the last straw.
They do not deserve this kind of money. It is time for these leagues to die.
mookie1
As you post a comment on a sports site. People have been saying this crap for at least 50 years, yet somehow sports manage to thrive. Maybe you should organize a boycott, that’s one of my favorites.
Ed "The Mythical One"
I can post anywhere I like. If I am attacking a problem, why not go to the source?
Sports are hanging on by a thread and that thread is being stretched tighter and tighter. This is why the Baltimore Ravens were begging people to come back to the stadium after their stunt in England and still haven’t recovered.
There’s already a boycott going on and has been.
VirginiaGiant
Giants ownership is not going to spend $$.
Zaidi will be forced to dumpster dive and scramble like always.
It worked last year, this year not so much
JackStrawb
Dumpster diving for a Giants GM turns out to be working on a $185m average payroll over the last decade. It could be worse, especially since the Giants had the guts to finance their own stadium, the only MLB team to do so.
Is it the effects of Covid that knocked salary down to $170m for CBT purposes over the last 2 years? Genuinely don’t know the answer.
JackStrawb
Let’s say Soto “requires” a 15/$500m deal to swing a bat, meaning the team that falls for this, I mean trades for and signs him is committing to $33.3m a year in perpetuity for a 6-win DH who has roughly 5 prime seasons left to him before he begins his decade-long decline.
He’s good enough that he might be one of those rare, long deals where the player remains a contributing regular to the end, albeit very probably in modest form, a DH worth a couple of wins who eats up the slot in the order teams typically gain from by rotating regulars through, letting them rest as the season progresses.
The problem with 15/$500m for a player who is not a 22 year old Mike Trout, is that the team puts itself in a “heads we tie, tails we lose” bind, in the sense that Soto might get hit with nagging injuries and put up $200m in value over the life of the deal, but he’s never doing the reverse—he’s never going to put up $800m in value.
Particularly since he’s robbing the team that signs him of the flexibility all teams need to assemble winning rosters year to year, doing so for a decade and a half, and doing it at the easiest position on the roster to fill, not to mention the young talent the acquiring team seems to need to overpay to get Soto, I wouldn’t go near him. The Nationals are currently asking for about half a team’s farm plus major leaguers, which is ridiculous. In arb, Soto is already slated to make about $50 million in 2023-2024, meaning he rates to put up just $45 million in surplus value over those two years. That doesn’t warrant a farm system—more like, if you were the Mets, Francisco Alvarez. A 60 FV position player, the average value of which is in the $45m-50m range.
For a reasonable comp, check out Bo Bichette just before he reached the majors, who was valued at 60 FV by a lot of scouts. He’s already put up 10 rWAR in just 1300 PA for the Jays. Would you rather have 6 years of Bichette, or 2 years of Soto? You rate to get more from Bichette, and for pennies on the dollar his first four seasons.
tbonenats
All great points, only issue is that for every Bo Bichette there is a Biggio or Robles or Kelenic…prospects are no lock to produce 10 WAR in their first 1300 PAs. So you’re also paying for the greater certainty that a player like Soto will give you 5-7 WAR a year for the next 5-7 years.
It is also not a lock he declines rapidly, he could start to decline at age 29 or 30 from a 7 war player to a 6 war and then maybe be a 4-5 war guy 30-33 and maybe he is Ortiz and still provides 2-4 WAR the last 3-5 years of his deal.
This also operates under the assumption that Soto has already reached his peak.
But Soto could also go all Pujols and become a negative WAR guy at the end of this deal.
mcmillankmm
If I am the Nats, I am waiting until the off-season to trade him (unless they get blown away), and I would focus on trading Cruz, Bell, Hernandez, basically anyone who’s headed to free agency at season’s end. It’s also easier to attach Corbin to a Soto trade in the off-season as well.
VegasSDfan
Myers, Hosmer, Snell and a higher level prospect for Soto. Plus cash considerations
Fever Pitch Guy
Vegas – That three way trade is a great idea!!
So it’s Myers, Hosmer, Snell and a higher level prospect to Washington.
Story, Diekman, Sale, Brasier, JBJ, Dalbec and Cordero to the Padres.
Soto and $60M cash to the Red Sox (to cover future bad signings by Bloom)
I really do like it!!!
AverageCommenter
The Sox should have to take on Corbin and Strasburg, then not get cash. Then it really would be your garbage for my garbage (plus a superstar, but that’s irrelevant).
SportsFan0000
Why would the Nats even consider this without getting great, young talent back in the deal?!
Why would the Padres dump one bad set of contracts for another bad set of contracts?!
JoeBrady
SportsFan0000
Why would the Nats even consider this without getting great, young talent back in the deal?!
===================================
I think that FPG allows KD17 to post under FPG’s name. For better or, agree or disagree, I can usually follow FPG’s logic. But there are a few times that his posts make absolutely -0- sense. The writing forensics suggest that more than one person is using his account.
Fever Pitch Guy
Joe – I know we have our similarities, but this is an example of how very different you are.
I saw the Vegas trade proposal for what it was, a humorous “we’ll give you our underachieving overpaid players for your star player”. And I enjoyed it, his proposal made me laugh (and laughter, BTW, is often a good thing).
So I decided to do a Red Sox version, and briefly dream of all the players I’d like to see gone (with Sale, only because he can’t stay healthy).
Never thought anybody would take it seriously.
And yes sometimes I don’t go the serious, intense, passionate route with my posts. Because, like most relatively sane people, I have different moods.
When I’m unhappy after a brutal loss, I often vent.
When I am passionate about a topic, I am often very serious.
And in the rare times when I’m in a goofy and somewhat happy mood, I will post something facetious.
One person, different moods. I am not robotic like Bill Belichick (Patriots coach). Heck, even Elon Musk goes out of character occasionally with silly humor.
I get enough crap for what I write, I don’t need or want even more crap for what someone else writes. LOL!
JoeBrady
When I’m unhappy after a brutal loss, I often vent.
When I am passionate about a topic, I am often very serious.
===========================================
I’m the same way. The reason for the remark was your defense of your remarks about Cora wanting to carry a bazillion RPs.
29 teams carry 13 hitters, as do the RS. This is objective data, and B-R makes it real easy and quick to verify the information. To insist that Cora is carrying more RPs than anyone else, is a very KD thing to do.
AceKing
Hahahahhhhha wow.
AceKing
Let the Orioles trade for them, and they can fix Patrick Corbin, too!
Soto in an Orioles uniform would be SO MUCH FUN!
tbonenats
Sorry Nats won’t trade Soto to O’s given the MASN situation
Ed "The Mythical One"
The Orioles didn’t even pay Manny Machado less than that, so they aren’t going to pay Soto. They are not in spending mode.
MPrck
He’d look mighty nice in the Astro uniform. 15 years at 45 per, a cool 675 mil. when he’s a F.A.
Mikel Grady
What a tough decision what owner will I work for and make 1/2 billion dollars . I feel for him
Shrutefarm
The poor superstar had to fly commercial, AND wait over an hour at the airport?
I do hope he is able to recover from this tragedy.
#Natscankeephim
JoeBrady
Yup. I love when the writers get all weepy when one of their gazillionaires has to fly on the same flight that us commoners have to fly.
And the writers feel like they are being selectively leftist in this case. Chartering a private jet is a lot more poisonous to the environment than commercial flights.
ChuckyNJ
I could’ve sworn I had stumbled onto 4chan or 8chan.
Boras had a very telling comment to the press. After Soto turned down the $440M extension, the Nationals refused to charter a plane for him to get to the All-Star Game. That’s why Soto flew commercial and got into LAX at 1:30 AM local time. Then he went out and won the Home Run Derby.
JoeBrady
Is there some type of prohibition going on the prevents Soto from chartering his own flight? If my boss refuses to give me access to a private jet, I simply rent my own. And I’m not worth even half of what Soto just turned down.
basquiat
Scott Boras, ever the self-promoter.
mookie1
This is a Nolan Ryan quote from 1979. This was a million dollar a year contract for his age 33-36 years and people thought it was “unsustainable”.
“I don’t think there is a million-dollar ballplayer,” Ryan said, “but if somebody’s willing to pay….”
It’s all about the amount ONE team is willing to pay. There will be a team who pays Soto more than the Nationals offered. Why hate on the guy for recognizing that?
Fifteen years ago (2007) there were three players making over $18 million, now there are fifty. By 2037 this kind of contract will be no big deal. Players will probably be making $60 million per year.
Ed "The Mythical One"
I hope by 2037 there is no MLB.
JoeBrady
Why?
BigFred
20 years and give him the Washington Nationals. I think that gets the deal done.
Balk
I would love to see Soto in a Giants uniform, but I don’t think they should give up the farm for him. Tough situation for the Giants right now!
Angels & NL West
Seager and Semien to the Rangers. Correa and Bryant to the Twins and Rox, respectively. Good luck trying to predict where Soto is headed.
HistoryBelongstotheVictorsInArms
The Oracle tells me Soto will pair with Rodriguez to form a monster duo in Seattle…