The Dodgers rolled into Washington this week with top-of-the-line data within the main leagues, a loaded roster, and championship aspirations. The Washington Nationals, lower than three years faraway from knocking out the Dodgers on their technique to successful the World Collection, have none of these good issues. They’re in final place. They’re years away from returning to title competition. However they’ve arguably had the perfect participant on the sector the final two nights.
Juan Soto is a 23-year-old left-handed hitting machine who has drawn comparisons to Ted Williams. He boasts energy to all fields. His plate self-discipline is otherworldly. His tranquil swagger is unflappable. He’s a celebrity.
And Soto is a Nationwide. Not less than for now. Final week, ESPN reported “rival execs” are questioning if the Nationals is likely to be “compelled” to commerce Soto earlier than the Aug. 2 commerce deadline. Hours later, the Washington Publish reported normal supervisor Mike Rizzo and supervisor Dave Martinez are within the final assured 12 months of their contracts, which means organizational change may very well be looming. That's all on prime of the latest information that Nationals possession is exploring promoting the franchise.
The affect of these variables on Soto’s scenario is unknown, however Scott Boras, Soto’s agent, informed the New York Publish a commerce is “not occurring.” That didn’t cease hypothesis from swirling.
Final Thursday, reporters obtained an e-mail with “Juan Soto Commerce Odds” within the topic line. The Nationals have been listed because the favorites to have Soto on their roster after the deadline. At No. 2? The Dodgers.
The final time the Dodgers had seen Soto earlier than this week wasn’t as an opponent, however as a fan when he attended the Nationwide League wild-card sport at Dodger Stadium in October to root for former Nationals teammates Trea Turner and Max Scherzer. He wore Turner’s Nationals jersey. Certainly some Dodgers followers’ imaginations ran wild that night time. ESPN’s report final week solely refueled them.
The Dodgers could have the chance so as to add Soto sooner or later. The query is when and the way. Will the Nationals commerce a generational expertise coming into his prime? Or will they hold him till he hits free company after the 2024 season and danger dropping him for nothing?
Soto declined a 13-year, $350-million contract extension in November and later signaled that he deliberate to achieve free company. There’s an opportunity he’ll eclipse Mike Trout’s 12-year, $426.5-million, record-shattering deal and reset the market.
Buying and selling superstars forward of free company has turn out to be extra prevalent throughout Main League Baseball lately. The Boston Pink Sox despatched Mookie Betts to the Dodgers with one 12 months of crew management remaining in February 2020. The Cleveland Guardians traded Francisco Lindor to the New York Mets on the identical level a 12 months later, additionally one season from free company. However two and a half seasons earlier than free company would mark new territory.
The Nationals have some expertise on this division. In 2018, Rizzo agreed to ship Bryce Harper to the Houston Astros earlier than the commerce deadline. The Nationals have been out of the playoff race and Harper was slated to turn out to be a free agent that winter. Possession, nonetheless, voided the commerce. Harper then signed with the Philadelphia Phillies.
The group went exhausting within the different course final July, unloading eight veterans in lower than 30 hours. Two All-Stars — Scherzer and Turner — went to the Dodgers, so there’s some latest commerce historical past between the entrance places of work.
“I’ll take him over right here any day,” Turner mentioned. “Man, if that man is in your crew, you guys are fortunate. I feel Nats followers clearly know that and I feel a variety of the nation is aware of that. However I feel if there’s one person who I can play with once more, for certain it will be him as a result of he’s actually good. He’s actually, actually good.”
The Dodgers’ farm system ranks among the many finest, ostensibly giving them pretty much as good a shot as another membership to land Soto ought to he hit the commerce market. The acquisition price for Soto would, theoretically, fall the nearer he will get to free company, however he might command greater than each Scherzer and Turner even in two years, depleting a corporation of a number of prime prospects.
“No matter you suppose, after which double it,” a league govt mentioned this week.
As for the cash, Soto will earn $17.1 million this season. He’s in line to set a report by means of arbitration subsequent 12 months. He’d shatter that quantity once more in 2024.
Cash shouldn’t be an issue for the Dodgers. Trevor Bauer’s latest two-year suspension leaves the Dodgers with a aggressive steadiness tax payroll of $263.6 million, in keeping with RosterResource.com, giving them greater than $25 million to work with below the $290-million tax threshold. That’s assuming Bauer, who appealed his ban, stays suspended for the remainder of the season.
The Dodgers have extra room after the season when greater than $100 million comes off the books. And so they have simply three gamers below contract for the 2024 season: Betts, Freddie Freeman and Chris Taylor. They need to have the pliability so as to add Soto — whether or not it’s by way of commerce within the subsequent two years or in free company after that.
For now, the collection between the golf equipment this week provided a stark window into the rising divide between the league’s contenders and rebuilders.
On Monday, the Nationals went hitless for 5 innings and misplaced 10-1. On Tuesday, Turner cracked a two-run residence run three batters into the sport off Josiah Grey, one of many prospects the Dodgers dealt to Washington for Turner and Scherzer. A reliever was warming within the bullpen earlier than the top of the primary inning. The Dodgers received simply, 9-4.
They're franchises on reverse tracks. One a title contender occurring a decade. The opposite whose days as an influence are over for the foreseeable future. They’ll meet once more in late July days earlier than the commerce deadline. It ought to mark Soto’s return to Dodger Stadium — until final week’s smoke got here from a legit hearth.
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