Padres Rumors: Several GMs Expect Juan Soto to be Traded This Offseason

Should the Friars move on from Soto this winter?

When the San Diego Padres won the Juan Soto sweepstakes at the trade deadline last season, it was seen as the needed move to propel the franchise forward.

San Diego reached the NLCS last season, and entering this year, they were expected to contend for their first-ever World Series title. But things haven’t gone according to plan.

The team has vastly underperformed to the heavy expectations that were put on them, and they are still searching for answers. With the struggles of the team and it looking like they may not reach the postseason, the future of Soto with the Friars now comes into question.

Even when they traded for him, many didn’t expect the Padres to shell out the type of money that it would take to retain his services. But now, many are expecting them to move on from him this winter, a year before his free agency.

“Several GMs are now predicting that the Padres have no choice but to trade outfielder Juan Soto after their horrific season, particularly having no TV deal and Soto seeking at least $500 million in free agency after the 2024 season.”

Per Bob Nightengale of USA Today

Soto will be a free agent at the end of next season, so it makes sense for the Padres to move him this offseason. He will still have a full season on the contract, and there will be heavy interest in the young superstar outfielder.

Teams could get him, and if they underwhelm next season, just ship him off at the deadline for assets. San Diego also would be able to replenish some of their farm system that was decimated in the original Soto trade.

This isn’t how anyone in the Padres organization expected things to go when they brought Soto to the team, but it’s the reality that they now find themselves in.