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MLB rumors: 3 ways the Juan Soto-Nationals saga could end

By Noah Yingling

WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 14: Juan Soto #22 of the Washington Nationals celebrates a run during a baseball game against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on May 14, 2022 in Washington DC. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 14: Juan Soto #22 of the Washington Nationals celebrates a run during a baseball game against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on May 14, 2022 in Washington DC. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /
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Juan Soto, Nationals
Jul 16, 2022; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Washington Nationals right fielder Juan Soto (22) gestures to the Atlanta Braves dugout prior to his at-bat during the first inning at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports /

3).Juan Soto stays until he becomes a free agent

The final way the Juan Soto-Nationals saga could end is the natural progression of a player in today’s age. Juan Soto would finish off this season, next season, and 2024 with the Nationals and then become a free agent.

The Nationals would receive a compensation pick for losing Soto in free agency if he signed with another team but it would not be a particularly high draft pick.

Through this season, teams that lost a big free agent (or players that received a qualifying offer) got a draft pick at the end of the first round. This year, it was the 31st and 32nd picks of the draft. Starting for the 2023 draft, the picks will come after the third round, as agreed upon in the new CBA. You can read more about that here.

In other words, unless the Nationals think that they will be contender in 2023 or 2024, they would be best off trading him or extending him because they will get next to nothing if they decide to stay in purgatory for the next 2+ seasons.

Next. Juan Soto knows his relationship with Nationals is beyond repair. dark

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