The contract the Nationals presented to Soto is unparalleled in the history of the league in length and amount. The current record contract that runs from 2019 for Mike Trout with the Los Angeles Angels is for 12 years for $426.5 million.
Soto recently let it be known that he doesn't want to keep losing. Washington currently has a record of 30 wins and 63 losses and is the worst in the league.
However, the real reason for turning down the contract may be that it would guarantee him an average annual salary of $29.33 million, which is as high as 15th in MLB. Soto's former teammate Max Scherzer on the New York Mets makes $43 million a year.
The earnings of sports stars in American competitions have been climbing to dizzying heights lately. American football player Patrick Mahomes has a ten-year, $503 million contract with Kansas City. Basketball player Nikola Jokic recently signed a five-year, $264 million deal with Denver.
