LOS ANGELES — Since his debut with the majors, Juan Soto has controlled the striking zone as well as every other player in the game. That’s what makes his current situation with Nationals before the close so frustrating for him: he has no control.
Soto met with the media on Monday at All-Star Practice Day and spoke about the $440 million 15-year contract extension he turned down from Washington and subsequent reports that the Nationals are now ready to accept commercial offers for the double All-Star.
“For me, my focus right now is just baseball,” Soto said. “I can not help it; my hands are tied I’m just going to play as hard as I can, play baseball and forget about everything else. I don’t make decisions. If they want to make the decision, all I have to do is pack my things and go, otherwise I’ll keep playing baseball as hard as I can.
Soto drew a large crowd during the National League’s media availability, with the vast majority of questions centered on his future with the Nationals. Reports surfaced on Saturday that Soto, who is eligible for free agency after the 2024 season, had turned down Washington’s latest offer, sparking rumors that one of the game’s best hitters could reach the trade bloc before the Aug. 2 trade deadline becomes.
“It’s quite difficult, quite frustrating,” Soto said. “I try to keep my stuff private, try not to throw stuff out there. It’s really bad [that the public knows about the negotiations]but at the end of the day we just have to keep playing no matter what.”
Seven weeks ago, Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo bluntly told a local radio station, “We’re not trading with Juan Soto.” That was before the team’s last renewal offer, which would have set a record for the largest guaranteed contract in baseball history, but at an average annual value of just under $30 million.
Soto said no one from the club has spoken to him about the situation since the news broke on Saturday.
“I haven’t spoken to anyone to tell me how it’s changed or what the mood was like, but a few weeks ago they said they’d never trade me and now all these things have come out,” Soto said. “It’s really uncomfortable; you don’t know what to trust, but ultimately the decision they make is not in my hands.”
The fact that the Nationals are up for sale could also have an impact on Soto’s situation. Soto said he would like the opportunity to meet with the new owner to discuss the future of the franchise, but until a sale is finalized this is not possible. Agent Scott Boras, who assisted Soto during Monday’s availability, noted that the ownership structure makes signing a long-term extension a little harder than normal.
“When you’re a player like Juan, when you’re a winner, you want to make sure there’s a lot more at stake than dollars and cents and who you work for and where you go is going to make up the majority of your career [is part of the decision-making process]’ Boras said.
Manny Machado knows what Soto is going through. His 2018 All-Star experience was dominated by trade talks, a process that came into play the day after the game when he was traded from the Orioles to the Dodgers. What advice would Machado give to his fellow NL All-Star?
“Live day by day and live in the moment,” Machado said. “Just try to figure out everything, whatever it is. Just know it’s family. You are in the All-Star game, which is a very special situation. And hopefully he will be Padre.”
Soto’s former Washington teammate Trea Turner was traded to the Dodgers last July, ending his own summer saga. As the rumors circulate, he texts his friend to make sure he’s handling the situation well.
“It is not easy. Everyone’s like, ‘Oh, just take the money, it’s a lot of money,’ and it is, but money isn’t always everything,” Turner said. “I’d love to see him play his whole career in Washington because he’s a franchise player and I don’t think people like him should go. I think you should do whatever it takes to keep him. Opinion. But I don’t know what his reasons are. I think he will ultimately decide what is best for his family.
Soto deflected multiple questions about his preferred target if traded, saying “I’m 100% a citizen at the moment.” He added that he “wouldn’t be surprised” if he traded before August 2 would, but he knows that decision is not up to him.
“I’ve been national since day one; why would I want to switch Soto said. “I’ve been here my whole life, my career; i feel good where i am. Whatever decision they make, I’ll be fine in a few days. At the end of the day, I’m not in control. I’m just here to play baseball and I’ll play as hard as I can.
Source: www.mlb.com
