https://www.forbes.com/sites/mikeozanian/2022/04/14/rubenstein-and-leonsis-mulling-purchase-of-washington-nationals/?sh=796e0d24634b
Apparently the Nationals are $500 million in debt. Which does seem less than ideal.
That whole paragraph stands out
"Another possible explanation for a sale is that the Nationals, according to people familiar with the matter, currently have over $230 million in deferred player compensation on their books for players like Max Scherzer (now on the New York Mets) and Stephen Strasburg. In addition, the Nationals also have some $500 million of debt. Such liabilities would seemingly make it challenging for the team to retain its young star Juan Soto, who reportedly rejected a $350 million contract extension before the lockout, and compete for another title any time soon"
If the estimated value is $2 billion, $750 million in debt and deferred compensation seems rather large. If Soto had said yes, that's over half the value of the franchise in either debt or future obligations
