Juan Soto is on the trade block; rejects $440 million contract extension from Washington

RedOctober3829

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View: https://twitter.com/ken_rosenthal/status/1548340997230170115?s=21&t=AAEllsSOlvqCZ_bSZdHaGQ


Juan Soto is available.

The All-Star outfielder recently turned down an offer from the Washington Nationals that would have made him the highest-paid player in baseball history, and the team now plans to entertain trade offers for him, a seismic development leading to the Aug. 2 deadline.

Soto, 23, rejected a 15-year, $440 million offer, sources said. The proposal, the Nationals’ third in recent months, did not include any deferred money, a departure from the team’s usual practice. The two biggest guarantees in club history, $245 million for right-hander Stephen Strasburg and $210 million for righty Max Scherzer, included significant deferrals, lowering the present-day values of the deals.
 

E5 Yaz

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My immediate thought is that, if they got Soto, the Yankees would let Judge walk after the season
 

Greg29fan

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He was a Red Sox fan growing up in the D.R., but I don't think they have the firepower to compete with other teams' potential trade offers.
 

E5 Yaz

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He was a Red Sox fan growing up in the D.R., but I don't think they have the firepower to compete with other teams' potential trade offers.
Especially with no guarantee that he'd forego free agency if dealt to the Sox

edit: I see he has two years after this one on his present deal. Changes the game somewhat, but it'd still be a risk
 

jon abbey

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Dodgers seem like the obvious trade fit, they produce so many top prospects that they almost need to keep trading a lot of them. I thought that meant Luis Castillo this deadline but Soto is an even better fit.
 

sodenj5

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The answer is everything. Trade everything for Juan Soto. You can stick him in left field to mitigate his defensive shortcomings.

You can build a team around Juan Soto and Devers for the next decade.
 

E5 Yaz

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Never happen, but I'd love to see the Mariners trade for him
 

E5 Yaz

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The answer is everything. Trade everything for Juan Soto. You can stick him in left field to mitigate his defensive shortcomings.

You can build a team around Juan Soto and Devers for the next decade.
You're kidding, right? At best, they'd be able to keep one of them
 

E5 Yaz

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It'll solve the Yankees' Joey Gallo problem, that's for sure
 

LogansDad

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I can't imagine him getting 15/440+ on the open market, as awesome as he is. Does he just hate playing in Washington that much?
 

E5 Yaz

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Rosenthal says there are big deferrals in there.
mlbtr: According to Rosenthal, the latest such offer – the third offer from the Nationals’ side – was for 15 years and a total of $440MM. Perhaps more shocking than the number itself is that the Nats did not include any deferred money in the deal.
 

chawson

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He was a Red Sox fan growing up in the D.R., but I don't think they have the firepower to compete with other teams' potential trade offers.
I think they may, especially if they take back Corbin’s contract.
 

rmurph3

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mlbtr: According to Rosenthal, the latest such offer – the third offer from the Nationals’ side – was for 15 years and a total of $440MM. Perhaps more shocking than the number itself is that the Nats did not include any deferred money in the deal.
Since the Lerners are selling the team, they don't care about deferrals anymore. Paying the contract is the next owner's problem.
 

sodenj5

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You're kidding, right? At best, they'd be able to keep one of them
Maybe. Maybe not. Their salary obligations for the next three years are basically Chris Sale and Trevor Story.
 

John Marzano Olympic Hero

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You're kidding, right? At best, they'd be able to keep one of them
The Red Sox are worth billions of dollars and bring in tens of millions (probably more TBH) a year. They could keep BOTH of them and be fine.

The Boston Red Sox aren’t poor. We have to stop acting like they are.
 

E5 Yaz

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The Red Sox are worth billions of dollars and bring in tens of millions (probably more TBH) a year. They could keep BOTH of them and be fine.

The Boston Red Sox aren’t poor. We have to stop acting like they are.
I'm not suggesting they're poor, or cheap. I'm suggesting that it's unlikely they would sign both to long-term deals -- for instance, which would you pay more? -- particularly with Boros involved.
 

radsoxfan

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Soto is obviously fantastic but emptying the farm to pay market/above market rate for him is probably not a great plan.
 

John Marzano Olympic Hero

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I'm not suggesting they're poor, or cheap. I'm suggesting that it's unlikely they would sign both to long-term deals -- for instance, which would you pay more? -- particularly with Boros involved.
I agree that it’s unlikely but I think that’s because we’ve become conditioned to believe that the Sox don’t have the money for both. If any team other than LAD or NYY does, it’s the Sox.

These are two young cornerstones entering their prime. If you’re going to break the bank for anyone, it’s these two players.

This would be like if in the winter of 2000 we didn’t sign Manny because we already have Nomar and Pedro tied up long term because Manny is “too expensive”.

And yes, I realize the financial landscape is different now but we’re talking Juan Soto here. If teh Red Sox want good players, you have to pay. You always do.
 

E5 Yaz

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And yes, I realize the financial landscape is different now but we’re talking Juan Soto here.
As pleased as I am that Bloom has restored the farm system, Soto is the one guy I'm empty the tank for. I just don't think owner/management has the stomach to pull it off ... so a Yankee he will be
 

John Marzano Olympic Hero

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As pleased as I am that Bloom has restored the farm system, Soto is the one guy I'm empty the tank for. I just don't think owner/management has the stomach to pull it off ... so a Yankee he will be
I don’t think so either. One of my least favorite qualities of any executive is stubbornness. And I think that Chaim very much believes in his vision. While that can be a good thing, when circumstances change and you’re offered a new route, it may be wise to take it.

I felt Ben Cherington was like that too. He had a great eye for minor league talent but other than the 2012-13 offseason, his major league eye was less than perfect and he never wavered from his original plans.
 

Philip Jeff Frye

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This would be like if in the winter of 2000 we didn’t sign Manny because we already have Nomar and Pedro tied up long term because Manny is “too expensive”.

And yes, I realize the financial landscape is different now but we’re talking Juan Soto here. If teh Red Sox want good players, you have to pay. You always do.
The financial landscape might be different but the biggest change since 2000 is the value of this franchise. It will be disappointing if the Sox don't at least make an effort here.

That said, I'll bet he ends up with the Mets.
 

E5 Yaz

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B H Kim

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I will be shocked if the Lerners trade Soto. Getting rid of the only real draw the team currently has seems like a really bad way to maximize franchise value for a potential sale.
 

chrisfont9

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Seems like the only play for the Sox is to send around some signals that they'll be interested when he hits the market. Let someone else empty their system for two years of him, and then if he's still worth the price, and you have JD plus maybe X or some other salaries off the books, sure, go for Soto.
 

Petagine in a Bottle

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Gut the system to get Soto, resign Devers and Boagerts. Probably is like $1b commitment for three guys (with player friendly opt outs too). Suddenly you are paying close to $150m a year for Devers, X, Soto, Story, and Sale. Great start, but how do you fill out the other 21 roster spots- especially now that your best prospects are in Washington?
 

RedOctober3829

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I went to Baseball values and built a hypothetical Sox-Nats trade. Soto’s value is so high that you’d need Devers in there in addition to top prospects to balance out. I decided to take a bad contract off their hands to soften some of the blow in prospect capital. Taking back Corbin means not including Yorke.

Red Sox get
Juan Soto 193.7
Patrick Corbin -54.6

Nationals get
Marcelo Mayer 55.4
Brayan Bello 28.8
Tristan Casas 39.7
Ceddanne Rafaela 14.8
 
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E5 Yaz

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Seems like the only play for the Sox is to send around some signals that they'll be interested when he hits the market. Let someone else empty their system for two years of him, and then if he's still worth the price, and you have JD plus maybe X or some other salaries off the books, sure, go for Soto.
The risk, of course, is that he either falls in love with the place he's traded or he's goes into free agency when a team has all it' big contracts off the books.
 

chawson

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Gut the system to get Soto, resign Devers and Boagerts. Probably is like $1b commitment for three guys (with player friendly opt outs too). Suddenly you are paying close to $150m a year for Devers, X, Soto, Story, and Sale. Great start, but how do you fill out the other 21 roster spots- especially now that your best prospects are in Washington?
I think re-signing Bogaerts wouldn’t be part of this scenario, but otherwise I don’t see a problem here.
 

axx

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I went to Baseball values and built a hypothetical Sox-Nats trade. Soto’s value is so high that you’d need Devers in there in addition to top prospects to balance out. I decided to take a bad contract off their hands to soften some of the blow in prospect capital. Taking back Corbin means not including Yorke.

Red Sox get
Juan Soto 193.7
Patrick Corbin -54.6

Nationals get
Marcelo Mayer 55.4
Brayan Bello 28.8
Tristan Casas 39.7
Ceddanne Rafaela 14.8
Corbin is owed 24M in 2023 and 35M in 2024. That's a lot of cheddar for the guy who leads the NL in hits and earned runs allowed.

If they are going to go that route, why not throw in Strasburg and take back only a bag of balls?
 

Petagine in a Bottle

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I think re-signing Bogaerts wouldn’t be part of this scenario, but otherwise I don’t see a problem here.
Seems like they’d need some pitchers, an OF, C, 1B, 2B. If they are going to run a $250-$300M payroll, sure. It would seem to be a dramatic shift right back to what got the last GM canned, no?
 

Philip Jeff Frye

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I went to Baseball values and built a Sox-Nats trade. Soto’s value is so high that you’d need Devers in there in addition to top prospects to balance out. I decided to take a bad contract off their hands to soften some of the blow in prospect capital. Taking back Corbin means not including Yorke.

Red Sox get
Juan Soto 193.7
Patrick Corbin -54.6

Nationals get
Marcelo Mayer 55.4
Brayan Bello 28.8
Tristan Casas 39.7
Tanner Houck 27.1
Does the need to spend $500 million on this guy to keep him somehow offset his "value" here?

The Marlins basically gave the Yankees assets to take defending MVP Stanton off their hands. That was a little different situation in that he was older and already under contract, but how many teams can spend that kind of money on Soto and give up that kind of talent for the opportunity to do so?
 

Petagine in a Bottle

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Does the need to spend $500 million on this guy to keep him somehow offset his "value" here?

The Marlins basically gave the Yankees assets to take defending MVP Stanton off their hands. That was a little different situation in that he was older and already under contract, but how many teams can spend that kind of money on Soto and give up that kind of talent for the opportunity to do so?
Exactly this. I think the BtV site is kind of bunk, but take a look at their estimated values of guys like Betts and Cole. The second Soto signs an extension, he’s a massive albatross. The value is in the two years he’s under control.
 

nighthob

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I don’t think so either. I was furthering the discussion of the Judge possibility. 3-team deal with Judge to 3rd team, prospects to WSH, and Soto to NY.
Is that in addition to Jasson Dominguez and Anthony Volpe? Because the prospect return for a Judge rental is going to be a lot less than what Boston would likely pay for Juan Soto.
 

E5 Yaz

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The second Soto signs an extension, he’s a massive albatross. The value is in the two years he’s under control.
This reminds me of that old game Time Bomb. The two years he's under control are you plotting strategy, as long as it doesn't explode in your face while you're the one holding the contract.

One of these years, a player getting one of these massive deals is going to get injured to the extent that he can't come back to what made him "worth" the deal in the first place. And then you're stuck.