Juan Soto rumors: 2 teams believed to be front runners for trade

Two teams are reportedly leading the pack to pull off one of the biggest trades in MLB history for Juan Soto. 

As I’m sure you’re aware, Juan Soto is indeed on the trade block. The superstar 23-year-old outfielder didn’t budge on a contract offer from the Washington Nationals. This has led the Nationals to be open to trading one of the best players in the MLB. It’s gotten to the point that Jeff Passan of ESPN has said the “chances of Juan Soto being traded are 80/20”.

This is huge news since it’s affecting the entire MLB. Imagine if a team acquires Juan Soto for the playoff run, the World Series odd shift dramatically. Any team acquiring a potential future Hall of Fame player before they even have hit their prime is a massive upgrade.

This isn’t a rental either as Juan Soto is under control through 2024! An acquiring team would be getting Soto for at least three playoff chases. Granted they would have to figure out an extension or lose him to free agency. It’s still extremely rare for a player that is 23 to hit the trade market.

It’s even rarer for a player with 2.5 years of control to hit the trade market. It’s never happened before where a 23-year-old player with 2.5 years of control and has been a two-time All-Star, top-10 MVP vote-finisher three times, a two-time Silver Slugger winner and Rookie of the Year runner-up to be made available. That’s why the Nationals will demand the largest package in potentially MLB history.

According to MLB insider Ken Rosenthal, the two teams leading the race are the St. Louis Cardinals and San Diego Padres.

Juan Soto rumors: Cardinals and Padres are the leaders in the pack

The Cardinals and Padres are overwhelmed with elite young talent. Each of their top prospects or young MLB players has All-Star potential. The Cardinals have Nolan Gorman, Dylan Carlson, Matthew Liberatore, No. 7 Prospect Jordan Walker, Mason Wynn, and many more top prospects. Meanwhile, the Padres have elite young pitchers McKenzie Gore, Adrian Morejon, CJ Abrams, Robert Hassell, and more.

GM AJ Preller of the Padres will surely be aggressive as he chases the playoffs and the elusive World Series. The Cardinals are equally hungry for a difference-making bat that can help them deliver a World Series. They want to take full advantage of the prime windows of Paul Goldschmidt and Nolan Arenado. It doesn’t hurt that they want to win badly in what could be Albert Pujols, Yadier Molina, and Adam Wainwright’s final MLB season.

This World Series victory would feel like no other in St Louis. It would triple in meaning. The Padres want their first World Series victory. Two teams with so much in talent and with so much to lose while chasing the Dodgers, Mets, and Braves in the National League. Don’t be surprised to see one of these Juan Soto rumors come true.

My prediction is that Juan Soto winds up with the Padres as the Cardinals might decide to focus on their starting pitching.