If the Washington Nationals are going to trade Juan Soto, teams are going to have to empty their farm systems to have a chance. Even that may not be enough.
According to Jeff Passan on ESPN Daily, teams are getting sticker shock at the asking price for Soto. He reported that one unnamed executive called the Nationals’ asking price “completely asinine and ridiculous” thus far in negotiations.
Juan Soto trade seems inevitable despite Washington Nationals’ asking price
At the same time, some team is likely to meet the Nationals’ asking price. Passan had also said that a trade involving Soto seems “inevitable” even if teams are balking at the asking price. Someone, somewhere, will eventually put together a package that the Nationals consider acceptable to send him elsewhere.
It makes perfect sense for the Nationals to have a lofty asking price for Soto. He is a generational talent, a player whose power and incredible plate discipline at this stage of his career are remarkable. Despite being just 23 years old, he has produced a 160 OPS+ with 118 homers and 108 doubles over his 2414 career plate appearances, drawing 456 walks with just 411 strikeouts. Add in another two years of team control, and Soto would easily be the biggest piece to move at the deadline.
That team control comes with a large price tag. Soto is making $17.1 million this year in his first year of arbitration with that price tag set to increase over the next two years. The financial cost, as well as the amount and caliber of prospects needed to bring Soto in, will be prohibitive to most teams.
That also does not change the fact that Soto could be a transformative player. While no one player can guarantee a championship, whichever team acquires Soto would immediately become one of the favorites. Winning a World Series would be well worth that cost; prospects come and go, but flags fly forever.
At least one team feels that the Washington Nationals have an “asinine” price tag for Juan Soto. Yet someone will be willing to pay it.