Padres Rumors: Juan Soto Expected to Receive 'Very Good' Contract Extension Offer
After the 2024 season, outfielder Juan Soto will become a highly desired free agent. Many pundits expect the San Diego Padres to offer Soto a massive contract extension during this offseason.
Hector Gomez of ESPN reported that they'll offer him a very nice extension, and that "there is a very good chance for him to stay with them."
This past offseason, after making it to the NLCS and losing to the Philadelphia Phillies, the Padres spent wildly. However, it didn’t translate to wins.
While the Padres’ TV deal went up in smoke this season, most pundits think the team will continue spending. Their general manager A.J. Preller seems to like bringing in stars no matter what, and figuring out the fit later. While it hasn't worked yet, there's no reason to believe he'll stop trying.
Soto is one of the best young players in the game. At 24, he has won a world championship with the Washington Nationals in 2019. He's on a Hall of Fame trajectory and has at least another decade of dominance ahead of him.
Unlike most Padres, Soto has had a solid offensive performance while learning how to play left field, making room for Tatis in right. He has a .275 batting average with 35 home runs, 108 RBI, and a .929 OPS. It is difficult to find a player with similar offensive production.
If the Padres can afford Soto, they would prefer to make an extension offer during this offseason, so they won’t be in a bidding war when Soto is a free agent.
