Who will get to see the “Soto Shuffle” is one of the biggest questions in the offseason currently. With Juan Soto nearing his free agency, it was expected that the San Diego Padres would look to trade him. They might have to do that to clear their payroll and get some value out of his departure. Soto had a remarkable 2023 where he hit 35 home runs and was one of the few bright spots in the overall disappointing season for the Friars. So there is no dearth of clubs that would love to get his services. But maybe there might be a slight twist to this tale.

The San Diego Padres have invested massively in their squad in recent years, hoping to create a winning group of players, even if 2023 did not meet expectations. With the sole aim of winning the World Series, the Pads are willing to take a surprising decision concerning Juan Soto.

San Diego Padres can extend Soto’s presence till the deadline

The Friars started 2023 with lofty expectations. They finished 2022 with a good record so it was expected that they’d be mounting a strong challenge for the World Series this year. But as the season went on, the team remained hopelessly mediocre, ending the year with an 82-80 record. Once potential Fall Classic contenders, they missed the playoffs completely.

Still, the owner believes that the team has what it takes to win the World Series. While they are looking to reinforce their squad with quality players, the question of Juan Soto’s future echoes through everyone’s mind. Though the Friars’ high payroll is a big problem, it is not a surprise that they are reluctant to part ways with the Dominican star. 

Soto’s contribution to the team’s 2023 season was immense. The left-handed outfielder batted .275/.410/.519. He was their best hitter with an RBI of 109 and a career-best 35 home runs in the regular season. With these elite numbers, the Pads know that with him onboard the team has a better chance for success. Yet the fact that the Childish Bambino is about to enter free agency cannot be ignored. His salary will likely increase to over $30 million as well. So the question arises –  what will the Padres do? 

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Well! According to some industry insiders, they might extend Soto’s presence till the midseason deadline. Until then, he would have probably contributed enough for them to have a good season. Also, a deadline-day trade might increase the number of suitors as many struggling teams might want to get their hands on the Dominican sensation.

Though nearly everyone would love to have a player like him, with his extremely high salary and next year’s free agency, those who can afford him are limited in number.

Can the Padres avoid trading Juan Soto?

If the Friars are looking to extend Soto’s stay, it raises the possibility of them not trading him at all. Although their payroll reaches the highest of peaks, it is still manageable. They can keep Soto at the cost of being spartan in their offseason activity.

Padres chairman Peter Seidler apparently believes that his team only needs a few tweaks that don’t necessarily mean big splashes in finances. If during Juan Soto’s extended stay, the Friars become frontrunners for the playoffs, will the owners take the risk of trading him and potentially weakening their challenge?

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This one decision to wait till the deadline might have strong repercussions. The story gets spicier as the suitors like the New York Yankees and Chicago Cubs grow anxious. What will be the end of this tale?