Ortiz: Soto should've taken $440M offer from Nationals
Hall of Famer David Ortiz believes San Diego Padres outfielder Juan Soto should've taken a 15-year, $440-million contract extension in July 2022 when the superstar was a member of the Washington Nationals.
"Anyone who knows this business knows that you don't say no to that," Ortiz told the Spanish podcast Abriendo el Juego as translated by theScore.
Ortiz added: "You were a franchise player. That franchise would've made your name if you signed that contract. What do you do with $500 million that you can't do with $440 million?"
The offer would have given Soto the biggest contract in baseball history, surpassing the 12-year, $426-million deal Mike Trout received in 2019.
The Nationals proceeded to deal the 24-year-old to the Padres at last season's trade deadline after he turned down several extension offers.
Soto, who's eligible to test free agency after the 2024 campaign, is making $23 million this season in his second-last arbitration-eligible year. The 2021 NL MVP runner-up and three-time Silver Slugger is slashing .256/.411/.484 with 13 homers and 36 RBIs over 72 games in 2023.