Washington Nationals star Juan Soto expressed frustration Saturday hours after it was announced that he had turned down a record contract with the rebuilding club.
The Athletic, citing unidentified sources, reported that Soto turned down a 15-year, $440 million contract offer to stay with the Nationals, which would have been the most lucrative in baseball history. Los Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout signed a 12-year, $426.5 million contract in 2019.
The Nationals said last month they would not trade Soto, 23. But Soto deal speculation has certainly swelled following this report that he is turning down a long-term deal.
Soto is a two-time All-Star who finished second in NL MVP voting last season. He will not be a free agent until the end of the 2024 season.
“I feel really bad to see it come out like this because I’m a guy who, for me, keeps everything under wraps and tries to keep it for them and for me,” Soto said before the Nationals played the Atlanta. “They just make a decision and do what they have to do.”
Soto referred questions about his contract to his agent, Scott Boras.
Soto was a key part of Washington’s 2019 championship team and turned 21 during the World Series. He won the NL batting title in 2020, led the league in on-base percentage in 2020 and 2021 en route to Silver Slugger awards in both seasons.
He is hitting .249 with 19 homers and 42 RBI this season and will play in Tuesday’s All-Star Game in Los Angeles. Soto reached base in his career-high 24 straight games Saturday.
The last-place Nationals began the day at a major league-worst 30-62, a full 27 games behind the East-leading NL Mets. Washington was 14 1/2 games behind fourth-place Miami.
“He’s young,” Washington manager Dave Martinez said. “I’m sure when things like that come out that are personal, it bothers people. I’m sure it bothers him a lot. But like I said, he has to understand that it’s part of the game, right? We’ve all been through this at some point. But he has to go out there and remember why he’s here, which is to help us win games and I know he will.”
Soto is the most prominent player left on a team that embarked on a rebuild last year. The Lerner family, which owns the Nationals, is also exploring the possibility of selling the team.
Since last year’s trade deadline, when Washington dealt Max Scherzer, Kyle Schwarber, Trea Turner and more, the Nationals are 48-104.
“I get the taste of winning, so I want to win every year,” Soto said. “I don’t want to keep losing. I hate losing. It is what it is. At the end of the day, we just have to get through it, because as I’ve been told, we all have to get through these moments to win a championship. For me, I think I’m going through mine. I’m just going to stay positive and keep looking forward.”
Martinez, Soto’s manager since he reached the majors as a 19-year-old in 2018, said he plans to tell Soto to keep being himself.
“He tells me all the time that he loves the game of baseball and that’s what he plays for,” Martinez said. “Go out there and just play and have fun and not worry about what’s going to happen. I mean at the end of the day you get what you deserve, we all know that. And for me, I hope it’s here.”
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