(Yahoo) One of the best players in baseball could be on the move in the next few weeks. Washington Nationals superstar Juan Sotoreportedly declined a 15-year, $440 million offer from the team, according to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. That decision will lead to the Nationals listening to offers for the young star.
The proposed deal would have made Soto, 23, the highest-paid player in baseball history. Notably, the offer contained no deferred money.
BREAKING: Juan Soto rejects $440M offer. Nationals will now entertain trading him. Story: https://t.co/u4ubuImb2S
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) July 16, 2022
Though the Nationals will reportedly entertain trade offers for Soto, the team doesn’t have to deal him. Soto still has two years left before he hits free agency. He is eligible for arbitration in both 2023 and 2024. He will hit the free-agent market following the 2024 MLB season.
Nationals offer no deferred money in massive Juan Soto deal
In the Nationals’ previous mega-contracts, the team has typically offered deferred money to players. The tactic allows the team to save money in the short term at the expense of paying players long after they’ve retired from baseball. New York Mets pitcher Max Scherzer still receives $15 million in deferred money from the Nationals each year and will continue to get that amount from the team through at least 2027. The team also reportedly included a ton of deferred money to Bryce Harper when it attempted to retain him in the 2018 offseason. That offer reportedly would have paid Harper until he was 60.
Though there was no deferred money in the deal, it was heavily backloaded, according to Jon Heyman. It also paid Soto $29 million per year, a high figure, but far less than Scherzer’s $43.3 annual salary with the Mets.
Juan Soto declined $440M, 15-year offer from Nats and will be available now. A few reasons he declined: 1. Heavy backloading of deal is tantamount to big deferral 2. $29M AAV is seen as old figure in light of Scherzer, other deals 3. Team is likely to be sold so owner unknown.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) July 16, 2022
Those factors may have played a role in Soto turning down the contract.
Soto spoke to reporters Saturday, and was not happy the reported offer leaked, saying he prefers negotiations to remain private.
A text from someone from another org, speaking anonymously about putting together a package for Juan Soto: “Well we could offer close to a lineup of future big leaguers or our top three or four guys.”
— Jesse Dougherty (@dougherty_jesse) July 16, 2022
