Nationals GM Mike Rizzo’s trade strategy hints at timeline for Juan Soto trade

When Mike Rizzo wants something, he goes and gets it. That is how the Washington Nationals’ GM handles the ball club. And that is how we should expect the Juan Soto trade proceedings to occur. A recent article article from ESPN detailed Rizzo’s trade tendencies.

The ESPN article shared a quote from an NL decision maker discussing the Nationals trade last season with the Dodgers.

“We wanted to talk about [Max] Scherzer and [Trea] Turner. But it felt like we weren’t really even allowed in the room. It seemed like Rizz kind of made up his mind that he wanted Keibert Ruiz and then worked with the Dodgers.”

The Nationals traded Max Scherzer and Trea Turner to the Dodgers for a prospect package highlighted by catcher Keibert Ruiz. And according to the above quote, Ruiz was always going to be in the equation.

If the same strategy holds true this year, Mike Rizzo will identify a prospect he likes and swing a Juan Soto-deal with whichever team the prospect is on. However, teams such as the Yankees and Mets have expressed an unwillingness to part with their best prospects. So Rizzo may try to strike a deal with a team willing to move their top prospect.

The article also stated that Mike Rizzo works quickly. So we could see Juan Soto moved sooner than later. With that being said, even Rizzo may take his time trading the 23-year old superstar. Soto is a once-in-a-generation talent so the Nationals want to receive the best possible trade package.