According to league sources,
the Washington Nationals are open to considering trades for
Juan Soto. Soto rejected their latest
long-term offer. Sources claim that Soto declined a $15-year, $440m offer that would have made him the richest player in
baseball history. Soto told ESPN earlier this season that he declined a $350 million 13-year offer. After the 2024 season, Soto is eligible
for free agency. According to The Athletic, who first reported the rejection of a contract offer by the Nationals and that
they were open to discussing potential trades, some team officials don't believe they can reach a long-term agreement with Soto. Sources
told ESPN that Soto would consider a Nationals extension if it was of significant length and an average annual value. Based on
their 2022 salaries, the Nationals' offer of $29.3million per year would place them 15th out of all players. When Soto was asked about
his contract situation prior to Saturday's game against Atlanta Braves he said that he trusted his agent to negotiate and will
continue to play baseball. After Mike Rizzo, president of baseball operations and general manger of the Nationals, said last month that
they would not trade Soto, the Nationals have changed their plans. Rizzo stated to 106.7 The Fan that they are not trading Juan
Soto. We made it clear to his agent as well as to the player. A Soto trade would bring about a national rebuild. They are currently
at 30-62, last in the National League East, by 14 1/2 games. This is their third consecutive losing season since winning the World
Series in 2019. Soto expressed his disappointment at the team's difficulties to reporters on Saturday, saying, "I don’t want to continue
losing." The potential sale by the Lerner family of the Nationals, who own the team since 2006, is another issue that could impact Soto's future.