RUMOR: San Diego Padres Could Trade Juan Soto After 2023 Season

According to USA Today's Bob Nightengale, the San Diego Padres are worried about Juan Soto, less than nine months after the club paid a king's ransom to acquire the 2021 National League MVP runner-up. In the latest edition of Nightengale's Notebook, the longtime baseball reporter suggests that the Padres could trade Juan Soto following the 2023 MLB season, if San Diego signs Shohei Ohtani.

According to USA Today's Bob Nightengale, the San Diego Padres are worried about Juan Soto, less than nine months after the club paid a king's ransom to acquire the 2021 National League MVP runner-up.

Soto has played in all of his club's 24 games to open the season, and is batting just .198 with four home runs and nine RBI. Despite struggling to swing the bat, Soto has continued to show great plate discipline, walking a National League-leading 22 times. Soto has a .369 On Base Percentage and .752 OPS, to go with four home runs and nine RBI. 

In 52 games with the Padres last season, the corner outfielder slashed .236/.388/.778 while collecting six home runs and 16 RBI.

Per Nightengale, the body of work Soto has put together in brown and gold has caused concerns for the Padres front office. The club initially believed that Soto's struggles were a product of the 24-year-old simply adjusting to new surroundings. The former Washington National moved across the country from the East Coast to the West Coast overnight. Soto also moved to a very pitcher-friendly park in Petco.

But Soto's slow start is causing more concerns in Padres land, Nightengale reports. Nightengale notes that the Padres plan to be a serious player for free agent Shohei Ohtani this winter. Ohtani is expected to receive the largest free agent contract in Major League Baseball history. Soto is scheduled to hit free agency a year after Ohtani. If the Padres are the winner of the Shohei Ohtani sweepstakes, Nightengale notes that the club could trade Soto. Soto turned down an extension worth $440 million from the Nationals, before he was traded. However, if he continues to perform the way he has in San Diego, Soto might not see another offer in the same ballpark. Nevertheless, Soto is headed towards a large payday, and Nightengale suggests that if the Padres add Ohtani, Soto could be dealt with a year remaining on his contract. Of course, San Diego could also hang onto to Soto for the 2024 season, but it sounds like the Padres will not spend big on both Soto and Ohtani. If the club picks up Ohtani, Soto's days could be numbered.

The Padres have the third-highest payroll in Major League Baseball. The club has committed a combined $1.258 billion to six players: Manny Machado, Fernando Tatis Jr., Xander Bogaerts, Yu Darvish, Joe Musgrove and Jake Cronenworth.

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