Trading for Soto a ‘big decision’ says former Blue Jays GM Ash

Ever since he reportedly turned down a 15-year, $440 million offer from the Washington Nationals, Juan Soto has become the talk of Major League Baseball.

Further reports suggest the Nationals are open to trading the All-Star slugger who has two years remaining on his contract.

Soto, 23, boasts a .901 OPS, along with 20 home runs and 43 runs batted in and would be an significant upgrade in the outfield for most clubs.

However, former Toronto Blue Jays general manager Gord Ash sees trading for Soto as a risky move in the long run.

“It’ll be interesting to see who ultimately trades for him, who’s willing to give up what Washington’s going to want because I don’t think any club short of the Yankees or the Dodgers think they are going to be able to sign this guy,” Ash told TSN 1050 on Wednesday.

“For instance, let’s just say the Blue Jays had interest and I’m sure they do because this is a tremendous talent, but can you really see yourself giving up four, five players for somebody you know in two years is gone? That’s a big decision that I don’t think anybody’s going to want to make.”

The Blue Jays fired manager Charlie Montoyo earlier this month in response to high expectations for the club that have not been met so far this season.

Ash, who currently works in the Milwaukee Brewers front office, says he “was a little caught off guard” by the timing of the firing as Mark Shapiro and Ross Atkins have typically not made that type of in-season move throughout their history together in Cleveland and Toronto.

Ash sees letting Montoyo go as a difficult decision, but ultimately understands why it happened when it did.

“I do think the fact that John Schneider is there and had many of theses players in the minor leagues with him and