Will Juan Soto Be MLB's First $500 Million Player?

With their 14-year, $340 million, franchise-altering contract extension to star shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr., the Padres announced to the baseball world their intentions at perennial contention. But beyond the rejoicing taking place in San Diego at keeping the future face of the league in beautiful brown pinstripes, the conversation almost immediately shifted to the game’s other 22-year-old phenom: What does this mean for Juan Soto?

Predictably, demands for the Nationals to pony up big money for Soto began in earnest. Speculation abounded for how much money it would take for Soto to sign a deal similar to Tatis’s, with some believing that $340 million “isn’t even close” to how much…