Washington Nationals star Juan Soto had his recent contract negotiations leaked to the public and had to hear rumors about the organization that signed him when he was a teenager wanting to trade him if he didn’t extend his contract.
He is also playing for one of the worst teams in the league, with a lousy 31-63 record leading to the All-Star break.
The roster around him is abysmal, and he has been having a somewhat modest season for his unreal standards.
Despite all of that, he was crowned as the 2022 Home Run Derby champion.
The night might have belonged to Seattle Mariners young phenom Julio Rodriguez, who hit 81 home runs in total, but Soto was the one taking home the trophy and the $1 million prize.
“Juan Soto is your 2022 Home Run Derby champion. With all that happening around him. Unreal,” Chelsea Janes of the Washington Post tweeted.
Juan Soto is your 2022 Home Run Derby champion. With all that happening around him. Unreal.
— Chelsea Janes (@chelsea_janes) July 19, 2022
Soto Has Been In Way Too Many Headlines Recently
Granted, there are worse problems to have than negotiating a multi-million dollar extension, but the fact is that Soto has been subjected to extra pressure these days.
He is looking for the best possible deal for himself and his family, but he also wants to stay with the Nationals and play for a competitive team.
He may not be able to secure all those things, and that’s why a trade might be in the works.
Despite all the noise and the rumors, Soto was impressive in the Derby, especially in the final round, edging Rodriguez 19-18 with the extra minute he got for hitting two homers over 440 feet.
He is truly one of a kind, and deserves the largest contract ever given to a major leaguer due to his age (23), past performance, and future potential.
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