MLB Rumors: Juan Soto trade buzz, Astros untouchable prospect, Dodgers-Cubs blockbuster
By Scott Rogust
MLB Rumors: Could Padres trade Juan Soto in wake of disappointing season?
The San Diego Padres were three wins away from reaching the World Series last year. This offseason, they added former Boston Red Sox shortstop Xander Bogaerts on a long-term contract. With that, the Padres had built their super team.
Instead, the Padres are 38-46 on the season as of the morning of July 3, sitting in fourth place in the NL West. The division is essentially a three-team race between the Los Angeles Dodgers, San Francisco Giants, and Arizona Diamondbacks. With this, San Diego could very well be a seller at the deadline. When looking at the roster, selling some of the top players would make sense. How about Juan Soto?
In his latest column for USA Today, Bob Nightengale writes that several MLB executives have told him that the Padres “would be foolish not to listen to trade offers this month” for Soto.
"“The Padres say they have not discussed trading Soto, and have no intention to move him,” writes Nightengale. “Yet, considering that Soto is a free agent after the 2024 season, will receive close to $30 million in his final year of arbitration, and there are no indications he’d be interested in signing a contract extension with the Padres, it would be negligent not to be open to trade talks. “The Padres wouldn’t command the same haul they gave up to the Nationals to acquire him a year ago, but they could certainly recoup a significant part of their investment, lower payroll in 2024, and restock their farm system in light of this year’s disastrous season.”"
San Diego general manager A.J. Preller has a reputation for buying, whether at the deadline or free agency. Last year, he acquired Soto and first baseman Josh Bell from the Washington Nationals in exchange for shortstop C.J. Abrams, left-handed pitcher MacKenzie Gore, right-handed pitcher Jarlin Susana, outfielders Robert Hassell III and James Wood, and first baseman Luke Voit. It helped the Padres load up for their playoff run and gave them Soto, who is under team control until the end of the 2024 season.
This season, Soto recorded a .277 batting average, a .424 on-base percentage, a .502 slugging percentage, 15 home runs, 46 RBI, 46 runs scored, and 80 hits. Soto was selected to the All-Star Game, his first as a member of the Padres.
It will remain to be seen if the Padres will trade Soto not just at the deadline, but down the road.