Padres News: MLB Insider Believes Friars Will Offer Juan Soto Huge Contract Despite Underperformance

He doesn't think this early-season slump changes anything.

The San Diego Padres have one of the biggest decisions to make regarding their team's future in the next year. Juan Soto is the final star out of their group that has not been awarded a nice contract just yet and he is certainly looking to add himself to their huge payroll.

Manny Macahado's negotiations were the most documented at the beginning of Spring Training and people were nit sure if he was even going to receive one at some points. Rumors began swirling that he would explore free agency but the bond he had formed with the city along with the MVP-level season he had last season went a long way in the front office realizing that he deserved one.

However, will this be the case with Soto? Everybody he knows he didn't have the brightest arrival in San Diego in 2022 but was waved off as an adjustment period. He also had some big moments in the postseason.

Juan Soto with the last out to win 5-3 game 2 #NLDS @973TheFanSD pic.twitter.com/vrEQquGf57

— Punt Report (@PuntReport) October 13, 2022

But his struggles have carried on into 2023 and the Padres are sitting at a pretty disappointing 8-11 during a stretch where they have scored just one run in three straight games.

Prior to the season, they were being labeled as a squad that would boast some of the league's best sluggers. However, Soto included, their offense has been nothing but stagnant. The 24-year-old star has assured that he'll be back to normal soon but fans are beginning to wonder if his extension status is now in jeopardy.

Luckily for him, MLB insider Hector Gomez believes he has nothing to worry about when it comes to this.

Despite his underperformance, the #Padres will do everything they can to offer Juan Soto a lucrative contract extension. https://t.co/IhIOcEJlv3

— Héctor Gómez (@hgomez27) April 18, 2023

"Despite his underperformance, the

#Padres

will do everything they can to offer Juan Soto a lucrative contract extension."

(Via Hector Gomez)

At the end of the day, Soto is still young and trying to find his place within the team. San Diego parted ways with some top prospects to land him and as long as he begins showing progress, it makes sense to hold onto him.