MLB Rumors: Braves-Soto link, Eduardo Rodriguez extension, Cy Young winner available

MLB Rumors: Braves linked to Padres’ Juan Soto

The San Diego Padres let the trade deadline pass without making any big splashes. As San Diego slips further from postseason contention in the NL West, fans will naturally turn their attention toward the future of key pieces like Juan Soto.

With only one year of team control left on his contract, Soto can hit free agency in the winter of 2024 — if he even makes it that far. The Padres were expected to listen to Soto trade offers ahead of the deadline and those conversations should only increase in intensity next season. Especially if the Padres can’t climb back into the contenders circle by next August.

With Soto’s departure feeling like a matter of when, not if, oddsmakers are busy prognosticating his next MLB home. One team leads the pack right now.

The Braves have the best record in baseball and the most sustainably competitive roster in the MLB. It’s hard to imagine Atlanta’s current group not competing for many years to come. Adding Soto to the mix — at 24 years old with another decade of prime baseball ahead of him — would verge on unfair.

Soto is splitting .275/.424/.520 at the plate with 22 home runs and 68 RBIs. He has three All-Star appearances, three Silver Sluggers, a batting title, and a world championship under his belt and he’s halfway through his fifth MLB season. Soto is a truly special talent and the Braves, with eight All-Stars on the roster, would be piling on their embarrassment of riches with Soto.