Report: Nationals seeking 4-5 top young players in return for Juan Soto

It’s no surprise, but if a team wants to acquire Juan Soto at the trade deadline, it’s going to cost a king’s ransom.

Since Soto reportedly became available after he turned down a would-be record $440 million offer from the Nationals, it’s been known that any team interested in the 23-year-old superstar will need to give up a haul. According to The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal, the Nationals are asking for “four to five top youngsters” in return for Soto. 

The players don’t necessarily have to be prospects, and the package can contain a combination of top prospects and young major leaguers with low service time. 

While the Nationals have opened themselves up to inquisitions from teams that would love to have Soto for the next three pennant chases, they don’t seem eager to give up the generational talent. Rosenthal also reported that the Nationals’ aren’t negotiating with teams and instead are putting the ball in their courts. 

The teams interested who have reached out to the Nationals about Soto, according to USA Today’s Bob Nightengale, are the Mets, Yankees, Mariners, Padres, Giants, Dodgers and Cardinals.

The trade deadline is Aug. 2.