Which Cubs Prospect May Be Red Line In Potential Soto Trade?
Juan Soto is one of the most coveted players on the trade market this offseason. There is no guarantee the San Diego Padres will make a deal to move the outfielder.
But, in San Diego, there are definitely winds that potentially could move it forward. Soto is in his final year of arbitration and he could rake in $30 million. Plus, the Padres needed a $50 million loan to get through the final month of the 2023 season.
Suddenly, signing Soto long-term may not be an option for the Padres. So, a trade might be in order.
Recently, Baseball America explored which teams had the most prospect capital to make a trade to get Soto for, at minimum, 2024. Naturally, that team would have designs on signing Soto long-term.
Is this a race the Chicago Cubs could get involved in?
The site didn’t include the Cubs among their Top 5 destinations for Soto based on prospect capital. However, the Cubs do have a system that is considered among the best in baseball.
So, why didn’t the Cubs make the Top 5? Well, Baseball America acknowledged the Cubs could be a “potential” landing spot. But, there could be a red line, so to speak, that the Cubs might not be willing to cross to get Soto:
The Cubs are a potential landing spot, but it will be hard to land Soto without including top pitching prospect Cade Horton, which they are not inclined to do.
Horton is the Cubs’ No. 2 prospect according to Baseball America and is already at Double-A Tennessee after being selected in the first round in 2022 out of Oklahoma. He could be MLB-ready sometime next season, which would explain why the Padres might want him in a deal.
Plus, the article points out that while the Cubs have intriguing outfielders and pitching prospects, there are teams that can beat the Cubs with prospects in Triple-A or even young players with MLB experience.
If the Padres do trade Soto, they’ll be trading a lifetime .284 hitter who is entering his age 25 season. He already has a World Series ring, a batting title, three All-Star Game berth and four Silver Sluggers. He’s also led the Majors in walks three times.
The team that lands him will be getting access to a generational talent.
