Would trading Juan Soto be the start of a long National nightmare?
Even though the 23-year-old Soto is under team control for two more seasons, the outfielder's time in a Nationals uniform may be coming to an end sooner than you'd think.
ESPN's Buster Olney, citing rival MLB executives, reports that the "Nationals might well be compelled — and motivated — to move Soto this summer."
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Likely fueling the Soto trade speculation is the offseason rumor that he turned down a $350 million contract extension with the team. Soto is represented by super agent Scott Boras, and Boras clients routinely opt for free agency rather than signing extensions.
The Blue Jays and the Padres were named as two potential suitors for Soto's talents, though the trade market hasn't exactly manifested at this point.
It's the gut-punch in the total dissolution of the 2019 World Series-winning Nats squad. Anthony Rendon, Max Scherzer and Trea Turner, three pillars of that championship team, either left in free agency or were traded. Bryce Harper, another face of the Nats franchise, left as a free agent following the 2018 season.
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Meanwhile, the Lerner family may sell the team, with April rumblings indicating that they may be searching for a dance partner. To add the icing on the cake, general manager Mike Rizzo is in the final year of his contract, leading to the question as to whether or not he should be the man to make a decision on Soto's future in a Nationals uniform.
Whether all of that means that Soto will be traded or not remains to be seen. That said, enjoy him while you have him, Nats fans.