Juan Soto’s return to Nationals Park on Monday sparked continued speculation about his future, a narrative that has followed him closely this season. The ballpark is loaded with memories for the slugger: his major league debut in 2018, a World Series title in 2019 and the momentous decision to reject a major contract extension.
At 25, Juan Soto is enjoying what could be his best season yet, coinciding with his contract year. Despite the talk about his future, he has maintained his usual calm, expressing his satisfaction with his current role with the Yankees and leaving the door open to whatever free agency may bring.
“At the end of the day, I’m playing for the Yankees right now,” he said. “I’m happy where I am. We’ll see what happens in free agency.”
Just a day earlier, Yankees fans at Yankee Stadium had made their feelings clear, chanting for Juan Soto to continue wearing pinstripes. The outfielder, however, deftly redirected those feelings, suggesting that such matters were the purview of General Manager Brian Cashman. When he came up to bat for the first time at Nationals Park, Juan Soto received a warm welcome from the crowd, acknowledging the applause with a tip of his helmet. Although some fans quietly chanted for his return to Washington, the majority of the 32,812 in attendance rooted for the Yankees.
It remains uncertain whether the Nationals will make a serious effort to re-sign Juan Soto. They previously offered him a 15-year, $440 million contract in 2022, which he turned down before being traded to the Padres. Now, with a promising young roster that includes top prospect Dylan Crews, who made his MLB debut Monday, the Nationals might have the financial flexibility to make another offer, depending on the owner’s willingness to spend.
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Juan Soto’s free agency remains a hot topic
Before the game, Juan Soto took time to reconnect with former coaches, staff and teammates, underscoring the deep ties he maintains in Washington. His popularity in the capital is well-deserved, stemming from his pivotal role in the Nationals’ 2019 World Series championship.
When asked about parallels between the current Yankees roster and the 2019 Nationals, Juan Soto acknowledged that while nothing can fully replicate the 2019 experience, this year’s Yankees share a similar energy and camaraderie. He emphasized the team’s collective drive to win, stating that personal concerns, such as contracts, take a backseat to their shared pursuit of victory on the field.
“The good energy and vibes we have here, I would say nothing is going to be like what we had at the 2019 Nationals, but this is definitely close to what we had then,” he said. “We all get along great, we play hard, we come here and everyone wants it at the end of the day. That’s what matters. Nothing else matters. It’s not about the money or anything. We come here to play baseball and win games.”
As speculation swirls and Juan Soto revisits his old stomping grounds, he continues to build on what is arguably the best season of his career to date.
Juan Soto’s breakout season has been somewhat overshadowed by Aaron Judge’s record-breaking year, but his own accomplishments are no less notable. Batting ahead of the likely AL MVP, he entered Monday with a .299 batting average, a 1.034 OPS and a career-high 37 home runs.
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Juan Soto’s 7.8 fWAR is a career-high, surpassing his impressive numbers from the shortened 2020 season. That mark ranks third in the league, just behind Judge and Bobby Witt Jr.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone reflected on Juan Soto’s growth, noting that despite his already stellar performance, the young outfielder may still be on the verge of fully exploiting his potential. The captain noted that Juan Soto, who is now reaching his physical prime, is also reaping the benefits of his accumulated experience in the big leagues.
Juan Soto’s ability to excel during his contract year — often a pressure-filled situation for players — makes his season all the more noteworthy. Boone praised his unwavering focus, stressing that looming free agency hasn’t distracted the 25-year-old from his goals. He praised Juan Soto’s dedication to personal growth and team success, highlighting how well he’s fit in with his Yankees teammates since spring training.
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