San Diego Padres trade Juan Soto
One of the bigger names tied to a lot of trade rumors is Juan Soto. He will be in the final year of his current contract in 2024 and it’s unlikely an extension gets done with San Diego. Preller, who is going to cut some payroll, may have no other choice than to trade his left fielder.
One team that would love to land Soto is the Yankees and they do have some younger talent that they could send the Padres way. Adding him to the middle of the New York lineup in the Bronx would make them that more explosive.
Soto has been a good bat at the top of the Padres order and losing him would be a big blow offensively. In 2023, he slashed .275/.410/.519 with 35 home runs and 109 RBI. He walked 132 times and struck out 129.
I have never been on the trade Juan Soto train, as he would be a very big piece of what the Padres want to accomplish next season, but given the cap situation, it makes sense to sell high on him right now rather than at the trade deadline next season.