"Even though the outfield has been clearly remade with young, former top draft picks, surely Washington still wishes they have their former superstar. Soto had one of his best seasons this year with the Mets, with a surprisingly low batting average of .263, but career highs in home runs (43) and stolen bases (38), and a second consecutive season with 100 runs scored and 100 RBIs."
"To be clear, trading Soto to the San Diego Padres was correct, and there's no reason to have second thoughts about it. There's no doubt that three of the team's top four current players - specifically James Wood, CJ Abrams and MacKenzie Gore - came from that trade, and there's still a chance that Robert Hassell III and Jarlin Susana could become important pieces of a future playoff contender in Washington."
"What the Nationals likely do regret, however, is not pursuing Soto more seriously in free agency last offseason. That obviously would've require offering him a boatload of money, as he wound up signing a 15-year, $765 million contract. But that's really beside the point. If the question is simply about who the Nationals most wish they still had, regardless of how much it would cost, Soto has to top the list."
The Nationals are rebuilding their roster with young talent while lacking established stars at several positions. Juan Soto produced a standout season with the Mets, registering a .263 batting average, career highs of 43 home runs and 38 stolen bases, and a second consecutive 100 runs and 100 RBIs season. Trading Soto to the Padres yielded top prospects such as James Wood, CJ Abrams and MacKenzie Gore, which remains defensible. The Nationals likely regret not pursuing Soto more aggressively in free agency, but his 15-year, $765 million contract presented a massive financial barrier.
Read at District on Deck
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