Where should the Nats go from here? Trade him or continue to negotiate?
Max: After letting Bryce Harper walk and trading away Max Scherzer and Trea Turner, the Washington Nationals owe it to the fans to make one more offer with a better AAV. If he turns it down then they need to focus on the long-term future of the club and find him a new home
Ryan: This is a tough one for fans but the Nationals really need to trade him. This team is facing, in all reality, a 5+ year rebuild to be consistently contending again. Your farm system isn’t good so how do you give it life? Trade Soto. Trading Juan would be franchise-altering. You’re looking at a team’s 4 top prospects and 2 players who are young mlbers. Your expected rebuild time is cut in half; this is a no-brainer.
Nick: I see it from both sides, but I think you can and probably should try to trade him now. The return on a Juan Soto deal would be otherworldly and this team has so many holes without obvious candidates to fill them. I’m not opposed to trying to sign him still, but I do think it makes more sense to trade him.
Nationals Source: I would make a best and final offer and if he continues to deny with no negotiating on their side then you must trade. I would expect the trade to come this winter if this happens.