The best trade offers that every team in the AL East could offer for superstar outfielder Juan Soto at the MLB Trade Deadline.
When Juan Soto is traded by the Washington Nationals, the return will be one of the biggest in MLB history. If it happens at the MLB Trade Deadline, then the return could be the absolute biggest in history.
The Nationals are preying on a team hoping to push all-in for a World Series in one of the next 2-3 seasons. Washington only has a week to determine if they want to push for an extension, or in the likelier chance, trade him. If they choose to trade him ASAP, they must sort through the many trade offers that have hit their inbox recently.
Either way, trading Soto would ultimately determine the Nationals and their trade partner’s future for the foreseeable future, if not for a decade or more. Juan Soto is the type of player that becomes available for trade maybe once a decade. He’s worth selling the farm for.
Here are the best Juan Soto trade packages from each AL East team.
Juan Soto rumors: Boston Red Sox best trade package
The Red Sox have a middle-tier prospect system, though it’s one that pales in comparison to the rest of the AL East. They are a team that ultimately should sell and hold onto their prospects, but I would understand them moving all-in for a player like Juan Soto. MLB Pipeline rated them as having the 14th highest system before the 2022 season.
Yet to get Juan Soto, they would have to empty their prospect cupboard dry if they wanted to hang onto their MLB talent. First off, their No. 1 prospect and the No. 10 prospect for MLB Pipeline, Marcelo Mayer, would have to be the lead prospect in this trade package. The No. 4 overall pick in the 2021 draft would give the Nationals an established potential star prospect at shortstop. He’s only 19 and is hitting .288 with 23 doubles, 8 home runs, and 36 walks to only 70 strikeouts at High-A.
Triston Casas is nearly MLB-ready at 1st base with a power bat in Triple-AAA and is MLB Pipeline’s No. 14 prospect. Brayan Bello has struggled at the MLB level so far but has proven he belongs in the MLB as a starting pitcher after a terrific season at Triple-AAA. He’s another top-100 prospect. Jeter Downs is a strong infielder that has done well in the minors but struggled in the MLB so far.
Nick Yorke would give the Nationals a long-term answer at second base with a high hit tool and yet another top-100 prospect. Meanwhile, Jay Groome gives the Nationals a high-upside lefty in the rotation that could find his way into the bullpen eventually. This package would be a lot to give up for Boston, but that’s the price of business when it comes to Soto.
Juan Soto rumors: Baltimore Orioles best trade package
MLB Pipeline ranked the Orioles’ farm system No. 1 prior to the 2022 season and prior to drafting Jackson Holliday No. 1 overall. While Adley Rutchsman graduated from prospect status, Baltimore still has loads of talent to go acquire Juan Soto.
The Nationals would definitely want the Orioles’ top two prospects, RHP Grayson Rodriguez and SS Gunnar Henderson. They rank No. 4 and 5 in the Pipeline Top 100 prospects. This would make the Orioles offer one of the hardest ones to beat. Yet, the Orioles would likely have to give up another Top 100 prospect in LHP DL Hall.
Each of those three guys has top talent ability with future All-Star makeup. To ensure this deal gets done, the Orioles add in an MLB-ready outfielder in Kyle Stowers and a high-upside young outfielder in Heston Kjerstad. The Nationals could have all four of these players join the MLB roster right away. The Orioles would establish themselves as a threat in the AL East with Soto.
Juan Soto rumors: Toronto Blue Jays best trade package
The Blue Jays’ prospect system has taken a hit due to injuries and promotions over the last few years. They still have some good names the Nationals would be interested in, however. Prior to the 2022 season, MLB ranked their system as the 19th best and this trade package would drop them even further.
The Nationals would get the No. 6 prospect in MiLB by landing catcher Gabriel Moreno. While they have Ruiz, a team can’t have enough great catchers. Adding another top infield prospect who has shown an ability to have all five tools in Orelvis Martinez would further their rebuild.
Meanwhile, Ricky Tiedemann is only in High-A but has front-of-the-rotation potential. To sweeten the trade offer, the Blue Jays would send highly touted former top prospect Nate Pearson. He is currently injured, but if he can stay healthy, the sky is the limit. Plus, sending Cavan Biggio gives the Nationals a high-upside change of scenery player that can play wherever. This would be pushing the chips all-in for the Blue Jays, but Juan Soto is worth it.
Juan Soto rumors: Tampa Bay Rays best trade package
The Rays have an elite farm system that just continues to get better. If there’s one team that can afford to trade prospects that it can replace, it would be the Rays. They were ranked No. 3 in the MLB prior to the season. In this trade package, the Rays would only be trading two of their top five prospects while sending three MLB players that just recently debuted. All five of these prospects have been top-100 prospects within the last year.
The Nationals would get an MLB-ready outfielder in Josh Lowe who could replace Juan Soto in their current lineup. He was No. 2 on the Rays prospects list entering the season. Vidal Brujan is blocked on the MLB roster and would get the chance to establish himself with the Nationals as a high-performing infielder. Luis Patino has dealt with injury issues this year. Despite that, he still has a high potential as a starter or late-inning reliever.
The big names in this offer are RHP Taj Bradley and SS Carson Williams. Taj dominated in the Futures’ Game and just got promoted to Triple-A. He has struck out an astonishing 96 batters in 79.1 innings as their No. 1 prospect and top-100 prospect. Carson is another top-100 prospect who comes in No. 3 on the Rays’ rankings. He’s only 19 and in Single-A, but has shown an advanced swing. He has plus-power and plus-hitting and should advance quickly.
This move would state that the Rays are absolutely all-in for the World Series over the next 3 years as there’s no chance they extend Juan Soto. Plus, they acquire another quality reliever who is under control until 2026.
Juan Soto rumors: New York Yankees best trade package
The Yankees can afford to trade for Juan Soto and to give him a mega extension. It would be a bit of a slap in the face to Aaron Judge, but it’s clear the Yankees want to win the World Series this year. Soto would give them a lefty bat they badly need.
In return, it would cost the Yankees quite a bit in terms of prospects. Before the season, MLB ranked them as the 13th system. They have five top-100 prospects and this trade takes away four of them.
To get Soto, the Yankees will have to give up both of their prized shortstop prospects, Volpe and Oswald. Both have the caliber to be terrific MLB shortstops. The Nationals would get two guys that could man the interior of their infield for the next half-decade.
That’s not all as the “Martian” would come to DC too. Although he’s only in High-A and 19, Jasson Dominguez just demonstrated his massive potential at the Futures’ Game. His potential is extremely high. This would give the Nationals three high-impact potential stars.
Adding another top-100 prospect in Waldichuk will give the Nationals another pitcher who could start in the rotation next season. Gil is another prospect that’s MLB-ready. This package would be extremely hard to beat which is why it’s their best offer. One that the Nationals should take.