Report: Juan Soto Turned Down Monstrous Extension From Washington Nationals

Juan Soto has confirmed a new report from ESPN that indicates that the Washington Nationals' superstar turned down a 13-year, $350M contract extension from the team before the lockout. 

"Yes, they made me the offer a couple of months ago, before the strike we have in baseball," Soto told ESPN Digital on Wednesday.

Juan Soto reportedly rejected a 13-year, $350M contract from the Nationals before the lockout 😳 pic.twitter.com/eKiP9KNBWp

— Baseball Bros (@BaseballBros) February 16, 2022

The deal would have taken Soto until his age-36 season, paying him average annual salary of $27M. That number pales in comparison to some of baseball's other stars, and wouldn't even put him in the Top 20 of highest average salary. 

"Right now, me and my agents think the best option is to go year after year and wait for free agency. My agent, Scott Boras, is in control of that situation," he added. 

No one could doubt that. Boras, undoubtedly, has much bigger plans in mind for Soto, like making him perhaps the first $500M player. Soto becomes a free agent in 2024, and if the 23-year-old continues to hit like he has in the first four years of his career, he just might hit those lofty goals. 

Will Soto stay in Washington long-term?

But it's not all bad news for the Nationals. Soto still said that Washington is the place he wants to be. "In my mind I still have Washington as a place I'd like to spend the rest of my career. We'll see." 

Soto has a .301 career average, a .432 on-base percentage, with a .981 OPS (and an incredible 175 OPS+), along with 2 Silver Slugger Awards and two Top 5 MVP finishes. He's also been remarkably durable, playing over 150 games in the two complete seasons he's been in the majors. 

One other reason he may be tempted to stick around DC, is their recent agreement to bring his younger brother into the fold.