Padres Rumors: MLB Insider Thinks Mets Could Trade for Juan Soto This Offseason

A blockbuster move could be on the way.

Both the San Diego Padres and New York Mets spent big in the 2023 offseason and are headed toward the same cushion on the couch in just under a week. 

The Friars have already indicated some wholesale changes that might include a trade for Juan Soto to said Mets according to ESPN's Jeff Passan. 

Jeff Passan on @baseballisdead_ Podcast:

“The Mets are a scary possibility for Juan Soto & I think the Mets probably are in a better position to offer prospects to go out & get him because I think Mets ownership has shown the aptitude & desire to sign guys like Soto long-term.”

— Mike Mayer (@mikemayer22) September 27, 2023

Mets owner Steve Cohen already brought back Brandon Nimmo on a significant eight-year contract to shore up center at Citi Field last offseason. 

Yet, questions about the team's competitive plan especially arose after their poor 2023 season on the league's highest payroll. 

Expensive veteran pitchers Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander both went elsewhere after the Mets decided on rebuilding for next year and beyond. 

Such a philosophy especially didn't mesh with Scherzer who later went public with comments on the organization's plan to wait until 2025 for another title run. 

It just so happens that Juan Soto's contract expires that winter and Cohen's deep pockets could certainly make a run at his services to squash any previous doubts about his organization's competitive nature. 

Getting back significant prospects from contenders at the deadline for his expensive veterans was a key move that could stand to benefit the Mets in the long term. 

In the opposite direction, San Diego's aggressive deadline dealing for the same result may cost them their Dominican slugger if their ownership is unwilling to extend Soto. 

GM A.J. Preller's consistent philosophy to gut the farm for talented stars hasn't worked and many suspect his days as the top executive on the team are quite numbered. 

Soto's been excellent in a healthy 2023 campaign with 35 home runs across 158 games; both marks setting new career highs for the 24-year-old superstar. 

Should the Mets truly buy back into 2025, such a move could certainly end Soto's fantastic run at Petco Park.