![]() ![]() The news that a Soto deal was possible propelled a daydream hypothetical out into the world as real, if not realistic, conversations. They’re also asking him to forfeit the information he would gain over the next two-and-a-half years - namely, whether the Nationals’ steep decline after the 2019 World Series triumph is going to produce a similar upswing. They’re offering him an average annual salary of less than $30 million, less than what Nolan Arenado, Francisco Lindor and Corey Seager signed for when they were both older and less productive than Soto. What they’re offering him is 13 years and $400 million, roughly, to forfeit his chance to spark a bidding war that would likely take him closer to $500 million or even over it. It’s not because they need to shore up a championship run. Think about why a 31-63 team is so eager to commit $440 million. He’s making $17.1 million through arbitration in 2022, and that number will escalate as he continues racking up stellar seasons, to the point where he could make $40 million to $50 million total in his remaining two years under team control. The earliest he can become a free agent is after the 2024 season. Receive comprehensive coverage of your teams and stream Capitals and Wizards games easily from your device.For one, Soto is two-and-a-half years from needing to make this decision. All he’d really need to do is continue playing at the level he already is.Īnd as a player who’s still just 21 years old, there’s still room for Soto to get even better.Ĭlick here to download the MyTeams App by NBC Sports. But at this rate, Soto won’t even need to put together a season of that caliber to surpass Harper. Of course, that MVP season was one of the best the sport has ever seen. Harper has only finished with both those numbers in the same season once in his career, the year he won MVP. The Nationals’ leftfielder has posted a walk rate of at least 16 percent and slugging percentage above. Soto finished second to the Atlanta Braves’ Ronald Acuña Jr., who entered the 2018 season the consensus top prospect in baseball, in RoY voting and has yet to make an appearance in the Midsummer Classic.īut Soto’s eye for the strike zone and ability to hit for power already have him reaching heights Harper himself has barely touched. It’s clear Soto already has a leg up on Harper, even though the latter won Rookie of the Year and was named to the NL All-Star team in both seasons. 937 OPS, 274 hits, 56 home runs, 57 doubles, 180 RBIs, 187 runs scored, 187 walks and 231 strikeouts 834 OPS, 260 hits, 42 home runs, 50 doubles, 117 RBIs, 169 runs scored, 117 walks and 214 strikeouts The next step is building off a historic start that has him on an early track for-no, no, don’t say it.Īstros series sparking World Series memories and motivation for Nationals' Mike Rizzo With a World Series ring fitted for his finger, he’s already achieved the sport’s ultimate prize. While Ryan Zimmerman holds most of the team records for counting stats due to his longevity with the franchise, Harper put together a dominant seven-year stretch in Washington that’ll be tough for any player to match.Įnter Soto, who at 21 years old is off to one of the best starts to a career in MLB history. In Soto, they have their answer.īut despite departing for a division rival, Harper left behind a legacy as one of the best Nationals hitters in club history. When he left, the narrative around the Nationals was how the team would replace Harper’s bat in the lineup. 1 overall pick and 2015 NL MVP, signed a 13-year, $330 million deal with the Philadelphia Phillies one year ago Friday. for one year but in many ways have similar career trajectories: Bryce Harper and Juan Soto. Those three sentences could refer to either of two players who only overlapped in D.C. He announced his presence with authority, making him an easy choice for one of the top up-and-coming players in the game. Washington would make the playoffs in one of his first two seasons, with the young lefty receiving the chance to showcase his skills in front of a national audience. A teenage outfielder made his debut for the Nationals, recording an extra-base hit in his first career start in what proved to be only the beginning for a player who’d be voted among the best rookies in his class. ![]()
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