All-Star outfielder Juan Soto said Wednesday he turned down a 13-year, $350 million contract extension from the Washington Nationals before the lockout began.
The 23-year-old Dominican, who finished second in the National League MVP voting last season, made the comments to ESPN, adding that he plans to wait for free agency, after the 2024 season.
“Yes, they made me an offer a few months ago, before the lockout,” Soto told ESPN. “But right now, my agents and I think the best option is to go year by year and wait for free agency. My agent, Scott Boras, has control over the situation.
“Anyway, I still think of Washington as the place where I would like to spend the rest of my career, so we will see.”
If accepted, the contract would have been the third highest in MLB history after Mike Trout ($360M) and Mookie Betts ($365M). It would have paid Soto $26.9 million per year until 2034, when he turns 36.
The contract would have kicked in for the 2022 season and did not contain salary deferrals, ESPN and USA Today reported.
Soto played the 2021 season on a one-year, $8.5 million contract, avoiding arbitration.
Soto hit .313 with a .999 OPS last season, slugging 29 home runs and driving in 95. He led the major leagues with 145 walks. Soto won the National League batting title in 2020, when he hit .351 in the truncated season.
He’s hitting .301 for his career with 98 home runs in 464 games.
–Field Level Media