The Major League Baseball world is no stranger to surprises. But Juan Soto has a way of taking things to another level. Take, for example, his massive deal with the New York Mets. Who would have thought that a player of his caliber would toss away pinstripes and head to their crossroad rivals? But even before he decided on this, he had made a decision that turned heads and made people question—is he serious?
This is what went down when Juan Soto had rejected the Washington Nationals offer for an extension. They had offered him a massive 15-year, $440 million extension, and he walked off. This decision brought plenty of backlash, and the narrative was—he was making a huge mistake. Sure, in hindsight, this seems to be a great decision now that he has secured a $765 million deal with the Mets. But recently he revealed that he was, in fact, open to staying with Nationals itself.
Just in: Juan Soto in a podcast – “If the #Nationals had put together a competitive team, I would have signed the contract extension for less than what they offered me ($440 million)”https://t.co/eVBnHJ3t5P
— Kev (@klwoodjr) March 9, 2025
Talking to Abriendo Sports, Soto said, “If the Nationals had put together a competitive team, I would have signed the contract extension for less than what they offered me ($440 million).” He made it clear—for him it wasn’t about just money; it was about winning games. Understandably, he would have wanted to join the Nationals, given that he had played a key role in their World Series win in his second season at MLB.
However, the truth of the matter is—in baseball—time is money. Players have a handful of years, and they cannot let emotions get the best of themselves. And for all those questioning Juan Soto leaving the New York Yankees for just a suite and the free tickets—maybe it was him choosing a team he believes will win. And if you look at the Yankees now, their roster looks thin, so in the end maybe Juan Soto just knew to invest his time in a team that spent to build a competitive team around him.
The post “Would Have Signed…for Less” – Juan Soto Explodes on Nationals’ $440M Offer as He Drops Real Reason Behind Walking Away appeared first on EssentiallySports.
