- The Washington Times - Monday, July 18, 2022

Washington Nationals star Juan Soto said Monday he doesn’t know “what to trust” after reports emerged that his team is now willing to trade him upon turning down a 15-year, $440 million contract offer. 

Speaking to reporters in Los Angeles ahead of this week’s All-Star Game, the 23-year-old slugger again indicated he was unhappy with the details of the offer coming to light. The two-time All-Star laughed when asked if anyone from the Nationals had talked to him about the club’s apparent change in whether it would ever consider trading him.

Last month, general manager Mike Rizzo said in a radio interview that the Nationals “are not trading Juan Soto” and that they’ve made it clear to the player and his camp. But multiple reports indicated Saturday that Washington will now entertain a Soto deal amid stalled contract talks. 

“A couple weeks ago, they were saying they will never trade me and now all these things came out,” Soto said. “It feels really uncomfortable. You don’t know what to trust. But at the end of the day, it’s out of my hands with what decisions they make.” 

Soto spoke to the media with agent Scott Boras off to the side. Boras, who often steers his clients to free agency, also addressed the press in another session.

“That the negotiations between Juan Soto and the nationals should be private, they are not anymore, my client will take that under advisement,” Boras said, according to ABC 7’s Olivia Garvey. 

• Matthew Paras can be reached at mparas@washingtontimes.com.

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