Padres Rumors: AJ Preller Wants to Extend Juan Soto But Doesn't Shut Down Potential Trade

This should be interesting.

San Diego Padres general manager A.J. Preller is addressing the media Wednesday on Zoom. He already said the team will be retaining Bob Melvin for the 2024 season, and then was asked about Juan Soto.

Soto is entering his final year of team control before being an unrestricted free agent in 2025. He's expected to get a record-breaking contract, and many have wondered if the Padres should consider trading him to recoup some assets as opposed to losing him for nothing next offseason.

Preller said that the "first path" is to work out an extension with Soto this offseason, however, he refused to shut down the idea of a potential trade involving the team's biggest superstar.

"We've never been a group that says no to anything," Preller said. "I wouldn't read into that. That's just kind of the way we operate."

A.J. Preller says the "first path" with Juan Soto this offseason is to work out an extension. Asked whether he'd consider trading Soto, Preller said, "We've never been a group that says no to anything. I wouldn't read into that. That's just kind of the way we operate."

— AJ Cassavell (@AJCassavell) October 4, 2023

It's hard not to read into that, as Preller could have shut down the proposition of a Soto trade. Of course, it is important to note he said the "first path" is to work on an extension, however, the team will clearly be open to trading Soto this offseason if the right deal presents itself.

Moreover, if the team is unwilling to reach an extension with Soto this offseason, they may not want to enter the 2024 season knowing it could be Soto's last in San Diego.

So, if an extension turns out to not be in the cards, there's definitely a chance Soto is moved this offseason.