The San Diego Padres have finally pulled off a deal to trade for Washington Nationals megastar Juan Soto. San Diego is also landing slugger Josh Bell in the deal. This is the Soto trade news we have been waiting weeks for, and it sees the All-Star team up with Fernando Tatis Jr. and Manny Machado in southern California.
Juan Soto Padres trade
This is simply one of the biggest deals in trade deadline history, and potentially the most significant of all.
C.J. Abrams, MacKenzie Gore, Robert Hassell III, Jarlin Susana and James Wood are heading to the nation’s capital in an unprecedented haul of young talent.
Soto, Machado and Tatis is an offensive core to go toe-to-toe with the Freddie Freeman, Trea Turner and Mookie Betts-powered juggernaut in Los Angeles. Gore is a big loss after impressing in his rookie year, but this is the price of acquiring a player of Soto’s caliber. Comparisons to Ted Williams are not hyperbolic.
Abrams has struggled early in his Major League career, but he was the ninth-best prospect in the sport before 2022. Hassell was 21st. Wood was selected in the second round just last year and has lit up single-A this season. Susana is only in rookie ball, but he has impressed in a small sample.
San Diego tried to include Eric Hosmer in the trade along with his $39 million remaining over the next three seasons. Hosmer, who has a limited no-trade clause, refused to be included in the package. Luke Voit was sent to the Nationals instead with Hosmer ending up in Boston.
Bell will now split time between first base and DH in what is a clear upgrade to an offense which has stuttered at times in 2022.
Any Soto trade was going to change the league. This pours more fuel on the National League West fire and takes San Diego into the inner-circle of World Series contenders. Washington have got the collection of talent they desired, potentially setting up the core of their next competitive team.
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