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Cardinals: 3 trade deadline moves St. Louis is lucky they didn’t make

By Miranda Remaklus

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - AUGUST 18: Frankie Montas #47 of the New York Yankees in action against the Toronto Blue Jays at Yankee Stadium on August 18, 2022 in New York City. Toronto Blue Jays defeated the New York Yankees 9-2. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - AUGUST 18: Frankie Montas #47 of the New York Yankees in action against the Toronto Blue Jays at Yankee Stadium on August 18, 2022 in New York City. Toronto Blue Jays defeated the New York Yankees 9-2. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images) /
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Padres, Juan Soto
SAN DIEGO, CA – AUGUST 3: Juan Soto #22 of the San Diego Padres celebrates scoring in the first inning against the Colorado Rockies August 3, 2022 at Petco Park in San Diego, California. Soto and Josh Bell were acquired by Padres from the Washington Nationals in a deal announced yesterday that sends a slew of prospects and veteran Luke Voit to the Nationals. (Photo by Denis Poroy/Getty Images) /

Cardinals passing on Juan Soto was smart

Yes, Juan Soto is a superstar who comes around once in a lifetime. He’s a fantastic talent.

But the number of prospects and major league talent it would have taken to acquire him was way too costly, given that it’s not guaranteed he would sign long-term with the Cardinals.

Major leaguers Dylan Carlson and Nolan Gorman were names bandied about in the media as possible pieces it would take to get Soto. Cardinals top prospect Jordan Walker and Masyn Winn, and pitching prospects Gordan Graceffo and Michael McGreevy, also could have been involved. That is just a colossal risk fans should be glad the Cardinals didn’t take.

Soto is currently on a one-year contract worth $17.1 million. He will be arbitration eligible in 2023 and become a free agent in 2025.  Soto had turned down multiple offers from the Washington Nationals to sign him long-term to a deal that would have paid him $440 million.

Soto appears ready to test free agency in turning down that much money from the Nationals. The Padres took a gamble in acquiring him, hoping to lure him into staying long-term with Manny Machado and Fernado Tatis, Jr.

Now Soto is day-to-day with back issues. Tatis was injured after a motorcycle accident and was suspended for 80 games for PED use. Machado is in a 10-year contract with the Padres worth $300 million. Machado can opt out after 2023. He does become a free agent again in 2029, otherwise. The Padres are 68-58 and 19.5 games back of the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL West.

Soto appears to have landed in a place that fits him well. St. Louis was not that landing spot for a reason.

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