The Mets are one of the teams who are a “possible fit” for Nationals star Juan Soto, per SNY‘s Andy Martino.
He said Washington feels as though the Mets are one of “a few teams that can match up on a Soto trade, and would likely begin by requesting two or three of New York’s best prospects.”
That means Francisco Álvarez, Brett Baty, Mark Vientos and possibly Ronny Mauricio, Martino says. And if we’re speculating here, the Mets would also likely have to add other prospects and MLB assets, as well. While the Nationals may have reservations of trading Soto within the division, they’d surely do so if the price is right.
Soto is reportedly on the trading block after declining a 15-year, $440 million extension from the Nationals. The Atheltic’s Ken Rosenthal said the Nationals feel that if he wouldn’t sign on long-term after being offered the most guaranteed money in baseball history, then they feel he won’t sign long-term at all. Accepting that fate now allows the team to get maximum value in return for the 23-year-old star because he has two-and-a-half years left of team control.
He’s earning $17 million this season, and he’d probably make around $50 million to $60 million over the next two seasons in arbitration. There are also reports that Soto, whose agent is Scott Boras, is looking for a contract that starts in the $500 million range.
Additionally, Boras clients typically hit the open market before signing deals. If that’s the case, a team trading for Soto would have to be comfortable giving up a haul for just the two-and-a-half seasons of control. However, a team like the Mets (and maybe a few others) will be able to afford Soto, who will reach free agency at just 26 years old, and could offer him a contract extension he’d accept before he does hit free agency.
In a separate report, Jon Heyman said one executive called a trade for Soto similar to a trade for NBA star Kevin Durant, who is currently being shopped in NBA markets by the Brooklyn Nets for an astronomical price tag.
Heyman’s report also said the Mets and Yankees are both expected to look into trading for Soto. What competing team wouldn’t?
