Longshots: Soto to the Nats in 2025? Avengers Beat Thanos?

[ZimW1N]

I don't mind having a corner OF position opened up if there were a good offer for Young. You can plan on Wood and Crews, and find a corner OF free agent while you hope Hassell Lile or Pinckney makes it. Just in terms of holes, you could see Wood Young Crews for a while. If you move Young, it has to fill a pressing hole.

It'd give us a place to play Juan Soto

[Senatorswin]

It'd give us a place to play Juan Soto

Put Soto at first base would work.

[Natsinpwc]

Talk about unreality.

[Senatorswin]

Talk about unreality.

Agreed. It won't happen for a number of reasons mainly because the Nats aren't in a position to compete with the rich teams just like the 13 teams behind them in revenue.

[Slateman]

Agreed. It won't happen for a number of reasons mainly because the Nats aren't in a position to compete with the rich teams just like the 13 teams behind them in revenue.

Literally every team in baseball can afford Juan Soto

[Natsinpwc]

Literally every team in baseball can afford Juan Soto

It’s not going to happen because the owners won’t spend that much and because he doesn’t want to come here. Wants to play for a contender. It also really doesn’t make sense from a strategic point of view for the Nats. Wait a couple years for free agents.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

It’s not going to happen because the owners won’t spend that much and because he doesn’t want to come here. Wants to play for a contender. It also really doesn’t make sense from a strategic point of view for the Nats. Wait a couple years for free agents.

regardless of the Soto/ Kyle Tucker discussion, in no way should this team "wait a couple of years" for free agents. Not at this stage of the development cycle if you are trying to contend with Gore, Abrams (and Garcia). The 2025 team will have 5 positions filled by either elite prospects (Wood, Crews) or young veterans (abrams, Garcia, Young).  DH is slotted for Lane unless he's traded. Sign or deal for a bat like O'Hearn, and live with Senzel / Lipscomb / Vargas until House is ready. He would already upgrade the D, so it is just a question of hitting progress for him. There's a decent rotation core of Gore, Irvin, and Parker, with multiple internal candidates for shots at the back end. More or less, it's 1 hitter and a front end starter, before considering what you can get in trade.

[Slateman]

It’s not going to happen because the owners won’t spend that much and because he doesn’t want to come here. Wants to play for a contender. It also really doesn’t make sense from a strategic point of view for the Nats. Wait a couple years for free agents.

Let's put aside the ownership issue. You are probably right, but it doesn't change the fact that every ownership group in baseball can afford Juan Soto

He wants to play for a contender? That's us. We are, no crap, a playoff team, if Juan Soto starts the year with us. You replace Eddie Rosario with Juan Soto, this team has the offense to be in a Wild Card spot. And all of the talent on this team is going to be here for a while, with more coming.

From a strategic point of view, it absolutely makes sense. Again, we are a couple middle of the order bats away from a WC position. This is absolutely the right time. And there will not be free agents even remotely as good as Juan Soto. The youngest position player in 2027 will be Alejandro Kirk at 28 years old. Soto will be 26 and a hall of fame talent. There is literally no team in baseball for which that "doesn't make sense from a strategic point of view."

We wait, we may as well trade CJ and Gore and start over. We'll just turn into the Athletics or Marlins.

[SkinsNatFan21RIP]

It’s not going to happen because the owners won’t spend that much and because he doesn’t want to come here. Wants to play for a contender. It also really doesn’t make sense from a strategic point of view for the Nats. Wait a couple years for free agents.

I don't believe for one second he doesn't want to come here. I genuinely believe if the dollars are close between us and the other big money spenders he would come here. His brother is here. He's close with Rizzo and he loves the area. Now do I think it will happen? Absolutely not. I don't think the Lerners would offer anything close to a competing deal. They'll pretend we're in on it but back off almost immediately.

[Senatorswin]

Whenever the biggest free agents are available there are only a handful of teams who sign them. That's the way MLB is set up. On the following list the only team behind the Nats in 2024 revenue that has signed a big-time free agent is the Padres. That was before their owner passed away. I think those days are over for them also having already traded Soto after the owners death. I think Soto would want to come here it's just not going to happen.

https://www.statista.com/statistics/193645/revenue-of-major-league-baseball-teams-in-2010/

[Slateman]

Whenever the biggest free agents are available there are only a handful of teams who sign them. That's the way MLB is set up. On the following list the only team behind the Nats in 2024 revenue that has signed a big-time free agent is the Padres. That was before their owner passed away. I think those days are over for them also having already traded Soto after the owners death. I think Soto would want to come here it's just not going to happen.

https://www.statista.com/statistics/193645/revenue-of-major-league-baseball-teams-in-2010/

No, thats the way MLB owners choose to operate.

[Natsinpwc]

I don't believe for one second he doesn't want to come here. I genuinely believe if the dollars are close between us and the other big money spenders he would come here. His brother is here. He's close with Rizzo and he loves the area. Now do I think it will happen? Absolutely not. I don't think the Lerners would offer anything close to a competing deal. They'll pretend we're in on it but back off almost immediately.

You’re leaving in a dream world. He loves NYC. Easy to see.

[Natsinpwc]

Whenever the biggest free agents are available there are only a handful of teams who sign them. That's the way MLB is set up. On the following list the only team behind the Nats in 2024 revenue that has signed a big-time free agent is the Padres. That was before their owner passed away. I think those days are over for them also having already traded Soto after the owners death. I think Soto would want to come here it's just not going to happen.

https://www.statista.com/statistics/193645/revenue-of-major-league-baseball-teams-in-2010/

Nats have been poop since 2019. One major reason why their revenue has gone down. They are actually getting paid now by MASN. In any event it’s better to see how the young guys do and then fill in the pieces through free agency. Don’t need to sign the top few guys to compete. Look at KC this year.

[welch]

You’re leaving in a dream world. He loves NYC. Easy to see.

In 2021, I met Soto's mother, brother, and several of her friends in a Nats game at CitiField. That was the game when Robles doubled to rght-center and was thrown out at third. After the game, Soto was waving to a group in the row in front of us, and she was waving back. Seemed that she was visiting with friends from The Bronx. For that matter, my neighborhood, Washington Heights, is nicknamed "Little DR" because so many Dominicans live here and just across the Harlem River around Yankee Stadium.

I think Juan Soto will sign with the Yankees.

[Slateman]

Nats have been poop since 2019. One major reason why their revenue has gone down. They are actually getting paid now by MASN. In any event it’s better to see how the young guys do and then fill in the pieces through free agency. Don’t need to sign the top few guys to compete. Look at KC this year.

If by poop, you mean down slightly.

The Nats have brought in 350+ million in revenue from 2021 through 2023. That revenue spike in 2019 can be attributed to their WS run. For all intents and purposes, the Nationals revenue stream has returned to pre-pandemic levels. We're seeing how the young guys will do right now. There is no reason to wait two years.

[Natsinpwc]

If by poop, you mean down slightly.

The Nats have brought in 350+ million in revenue from 2021 through 2023. That revenue spike in 2019 can be attributed to their WS run. For all intents and purposes, the Nationals revenue stream has returned to pre-pandemic levels. We're seeing how the young guys will do right now. There is no reason to wait two years.

I said the team has been poop since 2019. As in the team on the field. Soto is not coming. That ship sailed two years ago.

[Smithian]

I imagine Soto stays with the Yankees.

Dodgers have to be hitting their limits of long term spending with the Ohtani deal.

Not sure what the Red Sox are right now.

Do the Phillies want him when Harper is already at 1B?

I can't see him leaving the Yankees and going to the Mets unless he truly is money versus loy..... actually, Mets in play

[Slateman]

I imagine Soto stays with the Yankees.

Dodgers have to be hitting their limits of long term spending with the Ohtani deal.

Not sure what the Red Sox are right now.

Do the Phillies want him when Harper is already at 1B?

I can't see him leaving the Yankees and going to the Mets unless he truly is money versus loy..... actually, Mets in play

The Ohtani deal is literally paying for itself at this point.

I dont understand what Bryce at first base has to do with Soto. They can absolutely play Soto in LF for a five years or more.

There is no team that doesnt want Soto.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

New thread breakout discussing something akin to the odds of the Avengers in the Infinity War and the Endgame.

[English Natsie]

About as much chance as seeing Lord Lucan riding Shergar, in a race with the Loch Ness Monster...

[Smithian]

I'm cool not paying $400 million to a guy who will be a great bat and at best average on defense.

The Nationals are not going to have a big enough payroll to pay Soto and surround him with a contender unless he is cranking out 8 or 9 WAR seasons annually, something he has yet to do once. And if he crashes and burns, this franchise is toast as long as he is on roster.

Even with a new owner, I just don't ever see the Nationals being a top 5 payroll. And I don't think any team outside the Top 5 in payroll should marry itself to a historic contract.

[IanRubbish]

I'm cool not paying $400 million to a guy who will be a great bat and at best average on defense.

Boras won't be cool with having him sign for just $400 million.

[Natsinpwc]

Boras won't be cool with having him sign for just $400 million.

True.

Also he is already at 4.4 bWAR this year. So the lack of defense is not really hurting his value. He’s not a shortstop.

[Slateman]

I'm cool not paying $400 million to a guy who will be a great bat and at best average on defense.

The Nationals are not going to have a big enough payroll to pay Soto and surround him with a contender unless he is cranking out 8 or 9 WAR seasons annually, something he has yet to do once. And if he crashes and burns, this franchise is toast as long as he is on roster.

Even with a new owner, I just don't ever see the Nationals being a top 5 payroll. And I don't think any team outside the Top 5 in payroll should marry itself to a historic contract.

Boras and Soto will want 600.

The Nationals absolutely have the money to get Soto. Every team in baseball does. The Nationals can also surround him with a contender as much as any other team in baseball can. He is currently cranking out an 8-9 win season, and those players that can do it without hitting like this will fade long before Soto does.

You don't need a top 5 payroll to get Soto.

[Smithian]

Boras and Soto will want 600.

The Nationals absolutely have the money to get Soto. Every team in baseball does. The Nationals can also surround him with a contender as much as any other team in baseball can. He is currently cranking out an 8-9 win season, and those players that can do it without hitting like this will fade long before Soto does.

You don't need a top 5 payroll to get Soto.

Your first line is probably right. The rest we'll agree to disagree.