Juan Soto’s social media activity gives surprising insight into trade rumors

Washington Nationals star Juan Soto sounds like he expects to remain with the team after the MLB Trade Deadline.

Soto is the biggest name on the trade market right now, unless you count Shohei Ohtani, who may or may not be available.

The Nationals offered the 23-year-old outfielder a $440 million contract to essentially stay in Washington for the rest of his career. He declined, citing a lack of stability within the organization and a lower-than-advertised AAV. Soto wants that offer to be slightly above $500 million, which he could likely get on the open market.

Nonetheless, the Nats and GM Mike Rizzo don’t plan on offering that amount. Playing hardball with Scott Boras isn’t a wise approach, either. So, a trade it is — and while some momentum has been made on that front — Washington’s demands are rightly high for the so-called Ted Williams of his day.

Soto, so it would seem, believes he’ll remain a National for now.

MLB rumors: Does Juan Soto know something we don’t?

Soto has been in communication with Boras and the Washington front office throughout all of this. The updates he’s receiving seem to indicate he’ll remain a National until the offseason, barring a sudden change of heart from a team like the San Diego Padres or St. Louis Cardinals.

As of this writing, the Padres appear closest to making such a trade, as AJ Preller is notorious for trading away prospects and sacrificing organizational depth for the right star players. The Soto’s of the world only come around so often.

As for the man himself, Soto will find himself with a different organization eventually — and one that will pay him the $500 million he requests. It just won’t be in Washington, sadly.