During a press conference on Monday at the MLB All-Star festivities in Los Angeles, Juan Soto stated that he had no control over the Nationals’ decision to trade him.
The article Soto says “my hands are tied” as the Nationals consider a major trade first appeared on NBC Sports Washington.
He places full responsibility for the Nationals’ decision to trade Juan Soto on their shoulders.
According to reports, Washington had earlier this month extended the star right fielder’s contract for 15 years and $440 million, but he turned it down. As a possibility, the team considered trading him before the deadline on August 2. Soto said he had no control over whether the Nationals traded him when he spoke with reporters on Monday during the MLB All-Star Game festivities in Los Angeles.
Soto stated, “For me right now, I’m just concentrating about baseball. “Nothing I can do about it. My hands are restrained. I’m just going to play baseball as hard as I can and ignore everything else. I don’t decide anything… I should just pack up my belongings and leave if they decide to make the decisions. I’ll keep playing baseball as hard as I can if not.
The rule for star players represented by Soto’s agent, Scott Boras, is to refrain from making counteroffers during negotiations. The Nationals are now under pressure to compete with themselves in bidding until they present Soto with a deal that satisfies him.
The $440 million deal would be the biggest in North American sports history, but the $29.3 million average annual value would only place it 20th all-time in MLB history. The Nationals’ consideration of trading Soto shows how negotiations have reached a price point they may not be willing to cross, especially since Boras is unlikely to change his strategy by countering. Soto almost certainly would garner a higher AAV on the free-agent market.
Soto would garner a record-breaking return should the Nationals choose to trade him. No player with more than 20 career WAR has ever been traded while still in their age-23 season or younger. Despite a slow start, he has a.901 OPS and 20 home runs this year as he enters the All-Star Break. He is still under the team’s control through the 2024 season.
Soto, who typically refers any inquiries about contract negotiations to Boras, was displeased that the Nationals’ most recent offer became public.
I try to keep my stuff private, so it feels pretty difficult and frustrating, Soto said. “Avoid trying to make a stuff. Though it hurts quite a bit, we must continue playing in the end. It makes no difference what occurred.
It is still possible that a deal will be reached given the looming possibility of the Nationals selling the team. However, the club is now closer than ever to trading him. Soto thinks he has no control over that choice.
