The San Diego Padres cemented their starting lineup with the acquisition of superstar outfielder Juan Soto from the Washington Nationals on Tuesday, in one of Major League Baseball’s biggest deals at the trade deadline, raising their postseason chances by adding one of the game’s best young sluggers.
The Padres also obtained first baseman Josh Bell while sending a haul of players to Washington that included rookie left-hander MacKenzie Gore, first baseman/DH Luke Voit and prospects James Wood, C.J. Abrams, Robert Hassell III and Jarlin Susana.
Soto is a generational talent who turns 24 years old in late October, when the Padres have aspirations to still be playing for a title.
After playing a big role in the Nationals’ first World Series in franchise history in 2019, Soto hit .351 in 2020 to win the NL batting title. He has earned more free passes than any other player in major league baseball over the past two years.
“The atmosphere here is they want to win, and not just go to the playoffs but win a World Series,” said All-Star closer Josh Hader, who was obtained by San Diego on Monday in another big deal with Milwaukee. “That’s a contagious atmosphere to be a part of.”
The Padres began the campaign with a luxury tax payroll of $229.3 million, just below the first threshold, and the trades moved the Padres into tax territory for the second straight year. Soto is due to be paid $5,978,022 for the remainder of this season and Bell $3,516,844.
The Padres have Soto’s rights for two more seasons after this one, which made it no sure bet that Washington would trade him at this point. The Padres acquiring him for potentially three playoff runs, even without a new contract, made this the highlight of Soto’s value.
Not knowing what could happen began weighing heavily on Sotos mind, who said to the media after Sunday’s game against the St. Louis Cardinals: “I just want to get it over with and see what’s going to happen. Start over here or wherever I’m at.”
He gets to start fresh in San Diego in the homestretch of his second All-Star season, part of a ‘Dream Team’ that also included All-Star Manny Machado and Fernando Tatis Jr. when the shortstop returns from a broken left wrist.
“It’s pretty impressive to have those three types of guys on one team in the same lineup,” said Wil Myers, the Padres’ longest-tenured player. “Excited to see that trio, hopefully in the next week or two.”
Tatis could be close to returning, 10 days to two weeks, and being added to the active roster.
With little in terms of hitting around him, Soto hit a pedestrian .246 with 20 homeruns and 45 RBIs and 91 walks in 101 games.
In 2,435 plate appearances since making his Nationals debut in 2018, Soto is batting .291 with 118 home runs and 357 RBIs. He’s only a couple of years removed from slugging .695 with a 1.185 OPS and .490 on-base percentage — all NL bests.
Soto becomes the latest Nationals player to be traded as part of the franchises long-term rebuild and with the Lerners looking to sell the team. General manager Mike Rizzo traded shortstop Trea Turner, ace Max Scherzer, power hitter Kyle Schwarber and five others at the deadline last season, and the Nationals have let superstar Bryce Harper, Anthony Rendon and others walk in free agency.
The quintet of young talent coming from San Diego could join forces with the ones acquired last year, including pitcher Josiah Gray and catcher Keibert Ruiz, as the core of Washington’s next contender.
