Less than a year after trading Juan Soto to the San Diego Padres, the Washington Nationals are adding another Soto to the organization.
MLB insider Hector Gomez reports that the Nationals will sign Elian Soto, Juan’s younger brother, on Sunday. Soto will receive a $225,000 signing bonus plus a $200,000 scholarship.
Soto turned 17 years of age Tuesday, MLB’s minimum required age to sign a contract. The Dominican Republic native will sign during MLB’s window for international free agents to sign with clubs.
Speculation had Soto planning to sign with the New York Mets. However, last January, Soto flipped to the Nationals. Despite the Nats trading his older brother, Elian Soto will follow the same path as Juan by starting his professional career with the Nationals.
Soto isn’t one of the top 50 international free agents, but the left-handed slugger has promise. Given his DNA, he may be the Nationals’ most intriguing prospect—the Nats faithful hope he can mimic his brother’s stellar play.
Washington is amid a rebuild centered around the number of players the club landed in exchange for Juan Soto. Expectations are that Elian Soto will be worth the investment and a part of the Nationals’ resurgence.
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