Re the Arenado deal, with Nolan's no-trade clause I'm fairly certain the Rockies had little choice but to trade him to SL. The other option might have been LA but they weren't going to stay in the division. So when the leverage is all on SL's side, you get a deal like this.
Also, there will probably be some comments about how it doesn't cost as much in talent as people usually think to get a star player, especially at the deadline. Which is true when the field is small, perhaps, but even teams not in it this year would be interested in Soto, so the Nats should be able to get a very good haul (though maybe not as much as you have noted).
Ah, that's a fair point. I'd forgotten about Arenado's no-trade clause.
As far as package, expanded playoffs mean more teams being interested. Two years and change of team control mean more teams being interested. Generally, it'll be limited to teams who are willing to give Soto the money he seems to want, but the Nationals also have the benefit of time if you don't pay their price now.
Right. Plus I mean, if you are a team like Texas or Cincinnati (even though they'd never pay the money to keep him), it's worth it to make a bid. The only teams I'd think that really wouldn't be involved would be Oakland and Pittsburgh. Maybe TB. Some of the small markets would be fine with having him for 2 1/2 years and then letting him walk.
Re the Arenado deal, with Nolan's no-trade clause I'm fairly certain the Rockies had little choice but to trade him to SL. The other option might have been LA but they weren't going to stay in the division. So when the leverage is all on SL's side, you get a deal like this.
Also, there will probably be some comments about how it doesn't cost as much in talent as people usually think to get a star player, especially at the deadline. Which is true when the field is small, perhaps, but even teams not in it this year would be interested in Soto, so the Nats should be able to get a very good haul (though maybe not as much as you have noted).
Ah, that's a fair point. I'd forgotten about Arenado's no-trade clause.
As far as package, expanded playoffs mean more teams being interested. Two years and change of team control mean more teams being interested. Generally, it'll be limited to teams who are willing to give Soto the money he seems to want, but the Nationals also have the benefit of time if you don't pay their price now.
Right. Plus I mean, if you are a team like Texas or Cincinnati (even though they'd never pay the money to keep him), it's worth it to make a bid. The only teams I'd think that really wouldn't be involved would be Oakland and Pittsburgh. Maybe TB. Some of the small markets would be fine with having him for 2 1/2 years and then letting him walk.