The San Diego Padres had a dismal 2023 season. Despite grabbing headlines after signing Xander Bogaerts this past offseason, the Padres finished near the bottom of the National League West Division. Considering the situation, it’s no surprise that Juan Soto has come up in trade rumors this Fall.
Padres general manager A.J. Preller attempted to clear the air on those rumors. The team acquired Soto at the MLB Trade Deadline last year, which nearly helped lift them to the World Series. It would have marked the Padres’ first World Series appearance since 1998. But after a difficult season, trade rumors have popped up. The New York Yankees, for instance, were linked to the superstar outfielder at one point this offseason.
“Juan long-term [versus] Juan on a one-year-deal, that brings different dynamics,” Preller said, acknowledging that the team and Soto are still working on an extension. But also acknowledging that there is a contrast in the situation.
“We understand what that means for our roster, both short-term and long-term,” Preller added.
It would be a tough pill for the Padres and their fans to swallow if they had to trade Juan Soto. When they made the splash that they did, they gave up a lot of their prospects, but it was still seen as a win. That’s because Soto was still under club control at the time. That season came and went, and so did this past season. Now, in 2024, Soto will be playing in the final year of his deal.
If San Diego goes into the season with Soto, then you can’t discount the possibility that they could trade him during the season. It could almost surely happen if the Padres have a similar fate in 2024 as they did in 2023. But, for now, all eyes remain on San Diego to see if they let anything fly before Spring Training.
