Would trading Juan Soto be the start of a long National nightmare?

Even though the 23-year-old Soto is under team control for two more seasons, the outfielder’s time in a Nationals uniform may be coming to an end sooner than you’d think.

ESPN’s Buster Olney, citing rival MLB executives, reports that the “Nationals might well be compelled — and motivated — to move Soto this summer.”

Likely fueling the Soto trade speculation is the offseason rumor that he turned down a $350 million contract extension with the team. Soto is represented by super agent Scott Boras, and Boras clients routinely opt for free agency rather than signing extensions.

The Blue Jays and the Padres were named as two potential suitors for Soto’s talents, though the trade market hasn’t exactly manifested at this point.

Without an official start date for the 2022 season, players with expiring contracts will just have to wait to learn their fate. One person made headlines on the contract front earlier this afternoon.

Washington Nationals star Juan Soto reportedly turned down a massive contract offer from the team. According to ESPN’s Jeff Pass and MLB insider Enrique Rojas, Soto turned down a $350 million offer from the team.

“Juan Soto turned down a 13-year, $350 million contract from the Washington Nationals before the lockout, according to this @Enrique_Rojas1 report,” Passan said on Twitter. “In the story, Soto confirms the offer.”