All other 29 MLB teams that don’t have Washington Nationals outfielder Juan Soto. Since he could be traded before the trade deadline, each team should be preparing their best offers for him.
If Juan Soto is traded by the Washington Nationals at the trade deadline, the possible return would be one of the biggest in MLB history, let alone at the trade deadline. There is only one week until the trade deadline and only one week for the Nationals to decide whether to trade him ASAP or decide on when to trade him later or extend him.
Either way, trading Soto would transcend the future of the Nationals for a decade so they have to hit a home run on their return.
Here are the best Juan Soto trade packages from each American League Central team.
Juan Soto rumors: Chicago White Sox best trade package
The White Sox do not have a great farm system. In fact, entering the 2022 season, MLB.com ranked their system as the worst in baseball. They only have one prospect in MLB.com’s Top 100 (SS Colson Montgomery, who is No. 91) so he would have to be in a deal.
But to get Juan Soto, they would have to trade a lot of their young, controllable players.
Luis Robert isn’t quite as good as Soto but, when healthy, he is still a very good player. He’s in the third year of a six-year, $50 million deal that also has two team options. He would be the center piece in the deal. Jimenez has been injured a lot but he could be a great player. He’s in the fourth year of a six-year, $43 million deal. His contract also has two team options. Moncada is in the third year of a five-year deal, $70 million deal that also has a team option.
Vera is their top pitching prospect (No. 5 prospect overall) but he is only in Single-A right now.
Juan Soto rumors: Cleveland Guardians best trade package
The Cleveland Guardians have one of the best farm systems in the sport and it’s getting even better. They have eight prospects in MLB.com’s Top 100 so they wouldn’t have to give much from their MLB team.
All five of these players are in MLB’s Top 100 (No. 11, No. 32, No. 78, No. 80, No. 99) and all of them are in Double-A, Triple-A, or in the majors right now. Jones is the only one who is in the majors right now but he just made his MLB debut this season. If the Guardians and Nationals made this deal, it would put Cleveland over the top in the AL Central, as they need some more offense and, particularly, in the outfield.
For the Nationals, they would immediately strengthen their farm system and move their rebuild forward. With all five players being in Double-A or higher, all five players could be key players on the team as soon as next season.
Juan Soto rumors: Detroit Tigers best trade package
The Detroit Tigers are not in a spot to win this season. But they thought that they were much closer than they are when they entered the season. Acquiring Soto would bring some desperately needed offense to the team but to do that, they will have to give up some big prospects.
Riley Greene is MLB.com’s No. 1 prospect. Jobe is MLB.com’s No. 24 prospect. Torkelson has struggled in his rookie season in 2022 but entering 2021, he was MLB.com’s No. 1 prospect. Wentz (Tigers No. 11 prospect) made his MLB debut earlier this season but is currently in Triple-A. Cameron is in Triple-A but has less than one year of MLB service time.
He has struggled with the bat in the majors but, perhaps, the Nationals could turn it around and make him a good MLB outfielder.
Juan Soto rumors: Kansas City Royals best trade package
Entering this season, Bobby Witt Jr. was MLB.com’s No. 1 prospect. Defensively, he has been a liability at shortstop but, offensively, he has been great. Pasquantino is MLB.com’s No. 58 prospect and the Royals top prospect now that Witt Jr. has graduated from prospect status. He just made his MLB debut as well so those two would be two prospects that could be on the Nationals immediately.
Daniel Lynch and Kris Bubic have been in the Royals rotation and would provide the Nats with two young, controllable starters. Lacy was the fourth overall pick in the 2020 Draft by the Royals. He’s their No. 4 prospect and in Double-A already.
Juan Soto rumors: Minnesota Twins best trade package
The Twins have a very weak farm system so, despite being in first place in the AL Central, they might have the least talent to trade away. Their only prospect in MLB.com’s Top 100 is Royce Lewis (No. 40) but he is out with an ACL injury for the second time. Especially since there are a lot of injury concerns there, the Nationals would have to get a lot more in return.
Luis Arraez is, arguably, the best hitter in the American League but he doesn’t have the power that Soto does. Polanco is another great offensive player who is controllable. He is in the fourth year of a five-year, $25.75 million deal but he also has two vesting/team options at the end of the deal.
Joe Ryan was the Twins Opening Day starter and after this year, he will still be two years away from arbitration so he is cheap and controllable. Kiriloff has struggled with injuries but he was MLB.com’s No. 26 prospect entering 2021. He could play first or the outfield and would slot into the Nationals lineup right away.