Curious Padres-Juan Soto offseason connection feels like market manipulation

While there are multiple interesting storylines for the San Diego Padres this offseason, there won't be a free agent followed more closely than Juan Soto. Not unlike Shohei Ohtani's saga last offseason, fans of all stripes are already fascinated by Soto's impending mega deal and which team is going to give it to him.

Right now, the Yankees are the betting favorites as Soto seems to have enjoyed his time in New York and getting to play in the World Series certainly isn't going to hurt their case. However, Soto's agent is still Scott Boras and that means money is going to talk and a lot of big-time offers are going to be thrown his way with the New York Mets being another popular name in the Soto sweepstakes.

The early Padres-Juan Soto rumor mill feels a lot like agents trying to create a more robust market

The two New York teams will both be looking to sign Soto this offseason, however, CBS Sports' RJ Anderson naming the Padres among the numerous dark horse candidates for Soto smells awfully fishy.

This isn't meant to flame Anderson; it isn't like the article reads like a script from Boras. Teams like the Yankees, Mets, San Francisco Giants, and Washington Nationals, all of whom have been frequently connected to Soto's free agency, get the bulk of the mention, and rightly so.

Still, it feels a little contrived to make a list of teams that have targeted big names in the past like the Padres with little regard for their current situations. The Toronto Blue Jays were mentioned as an option as well, despite the fact that they are trending in the wrong direction and are about to have to hand out some substantial arbitration raises to even keep their current roster together.

The Philadelphia Phillies and Chiacgo Cubs were lumped in as well despite Philly already having north of $222 million committed to 2025 and Chicago needing to make multiple roster upgrades instead of one big move.

Juan Soto coming back to the Padres seems like a pipe dream

Then we have the Padres. Obviously it would be amazing if Soto came back to San Diego this offseason as the Padres would instantly become World Series favorites if that happened. However, the sheer amount of long-term deals on San Diego's payroll combined with the Padres' other needs make signing Soto a giant reach even for A.J. Preller.

What likely happened here is a combination of just throwing out some of the usual wheelers and dealers as options as well as potentially some light whispers from Boras that these are the teams he wants to talk to. Take what you hear right now with a grain of salt and let things play out this offseason before you start dusting off your old Padres' Soto jerseys.

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