Davey Martinez tried to prepare Juan Soto for what was coming heading into the 2021 Trade Deadline this past Friday.
Martinez said he spoke with the Washington Nationals’ 22-year-old right fielder in advance, to try to let him know what to expect, and what was expected of him, as the organization was preparing for a reboot after a sober assessment of where things stood this season and in the big picture.
“I talked to him in Philly, actually, and told him that he just has to keep his head up and keep playing,” Martinez told reporters on Friday afternoon, after the team traded away seven who were playing out expiring deals (Max Scherzer, Brad Hand, Yan Gomes, Daniel Hudson, Kyle Schwarber, Josh Harrison, and Jon Lester), and one, (Trea Turner), who was a year-plus away from free agency.