When news broke Wednesday that star outfielder Juan Soto had turned down a reported 13-year, $350 million contract extension from the Nationals before the start of the interminable lockout, it shouldn’t have taken many by surprise. As anyone who’s watched an episode of Shark Tank knows, the first offer is usually a lowball, and that’s exactly what $350 million represents to perhaps the best position player in the game.
Soto’s accomplishments at such a young age are staggering. Through his age-22 season, he already owns a World Series championship, a batting title, two top-five MVP finishes and a ludicrous .301/.432/.550 career slash line across over 2,000 plate appearances. In three years he’ll be eligible for free agency, with a very real chance to become baseball’s first $500 million player.
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