Soto reportedly rejected contract extension

The report said Soto turned down an offer of $440 million for 15 years that would have been the largest contract in baseball history.

Earlier this year he had also turned down an offer of $350 million for 13 years before the offseason hiatus. He is currently eligible to become a free agent after the 2024 season.

The decision to listen to potential trades for Soto would represent a change in plans for the Nationals after president of baseball operations and general manager Mike Rizzo said last month that the team would not move the 23-year-old star.

“We’re not going to trade Juan Soto,” Rizzo told 106.7 The Fan on June 1. “We made that clear to his agent and the player.”

But according to The Athletic, some Nationals officials no longer believe they can work out a long-term deal with Soto.

The expected return in a Soto trade would spur a rebuild for the Nationals. They have a 30-62 record this season, occupying last place in the National League East by 14½ games and en route to a third straight losing season after winning the World Series in 2019.

Named an All-Star for the second consecutive season, Soto is batting a career-low .247 in 2022 with 19 home runs and 42 RBIs in 89 games. He is also set to compete in Monday’s Home Run Derby.

The MLB trade deadline is Aug. 2.