San Diego Padres fans read between the lines as Juan Soto delays World Baseball Classic trip for treatment on calf: "Left calf = $500 milly contract"
San Diego Padres outfielder Juan Soto is getting treated for a lingering tightness in his left calf before the World Baseball Classic, according to the team's official statement. He is slated to be a starter for Team Dominican Republic, with the squad's first WBC game against Venezuela at 7 p.m. Eastern time on Saturday in Miami.
But rather than join fellow Padres players Manny Machado, Nelson Cruz, and Luis Garcia on the flight to Miami Monday, Soto stayed at the team's spring training camp in Peoria, Ariz.
"Right now, it feels good," Soto told MLB.com [about his left calf treatment]. "It's improving a lot; it feels pretty good. But they want to make sure I'm ready to go."
Juan Soto did not catch flight to Florida with the other Padres on the Dominican Republic’s WBC team.
Soto is sticking around camp for at least a couple days for treatment on left calf. Expectation remains that he will still play in WBC.
However, some Padres fans are seeing through the injury news keeping Juan Soto from the World Baseball Classic for "at least a couple days." They think something bigger is afoot – in terms of a contract extension.
👀👀😱👀👀
Treating that calf to a 15/500 treatment? twitter.com/sdutKevinAcee/…
Left calf = $500 milly contract twitter.com/sdutkevinacee/…
twitter.com/sdutkevinacee/…Extension 🔜 twitter.com/sdutkevinacee/…
Soto was traded from the Washington Nationals to the Padres on Aug. 2 last season. A .287 career hitter, he hit just .236 with six home runs in 52 games with San Diego.
However, given that Soto hit 119 homers with 358 RBIs and 430 runs in four-plus seasons with the Nationals, Padres faithful are willing to look past last season's numbers and are hoping for a long-term relationship with the budding superstar.
He’s getting extended let’s fucking GO twitter.com/sdutkevinacee/…
I hear that he’s actually stayed behind to get the final details of the extension ironed out. Today’s the day, Padres fans! twitter.com/sdutkevinacee/…
Calf extensions* 🔜 twitter.com/sdutkevinacee/…
There doesn't seem to be a whole lot of apprehension in Padres camp either regarding Soto putting off his WBC trip. San Diego manager Bob Melvin is optimistic about Soto participating in the WBC.
"I'm still confident that he will (play in the Classic)," Melvin told MLB.com. "I know that he wants to, as well. But if this thing lingers a little bit, and he's not confident running, we'll see where it goes."
Fans, however, still think it's a smokescreen for big contract news soon to come.
We need to replace the injury translator with a contractor extension translator twitter.com/sdutKevinAcee/…
So you’re telling me he’s getting extended… twitter.com/sdutkevinacee/… https://t.co/YMemWSpn6F
@WillHolder9 @TooMuchMortons_ couple of extra days to get an extension done twitter.com/sdutkevinacee/…
However, there are a few fans of the Dominican Republic that are at least moderately concerned about Soto's status for the WBC.
Dominican Republic WBC roster could take another hit. twitter.com/sdutkevinacee/…
Juan Soto on hot streak as World Baseball Classic beckons
Juan Soto was smashing the ball in spring training, logging an OPS of 2.023 in 12 plate appearances. The Dominican Republic is scheduled to play exhibitions against MLB teams on Wednesday and Thursday before beginning the World Baseball Classic.