Where Does Padres' Farm System Stack Up After Juan Soto Trade?

Padres become one of three teams with six top 100 prospects after the Juan Soto trade

The likely second-most significant story of the MLB offseason is finally over. The San Diego Padres have parted ways with their lefty slugger, Juan Soto, sending him to the New York Yankees.

After a season and a half, Soto will wear new colors and return to the East Coast. Although losing a star player is never easy, the return does make it a bit easier. The Padres received right-handed pitchers Michael King, Jhony Brito, Randy Vasquez, Drew Thorpe, and catcher Kyle Higashioka. 

That is a nice haul for a player entering free agency in a year, especially the standout 23-year-old Thorpe. With the addition of Thorpe, the Padres are now tied for first with the most Top 100 prospects in the MLB pipeline with six. The Friars are tied with the Baltimore Orioles and the Chicago Cubs.

After adding Drew Thorpe in the Juan Soto trade, the Padres now have six Top 100 prospects.

Here's the complete list: https://t.co/jN9oTf1bVx pic.twitter.com/O30cdAEqPR

— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) December 7, 2023

The other top prospects in the top 100 list are catcher Ethan Salas, shortstop Jackson Merrill, LHP Robby Snelling, RHP Dylan Lesko, and outfielder Samuel Zavala. The Padres farm system was last ranked at ninth in the midseason rankings in 2023.

Even with the loss of Soto, this Padres team is looking to compete next season, and they have the talent to do so. However, it's nice to know that if their young prospects stay put, they could potentially have an even better future if things pan out. 

Losing Soto was never going to be easy, but the Padres get a fresh start without entering a full rebuild.