Why the San Diego Padres Might Be Forced to Trade Juan Soto

The tale of Juan Soto‘s trade keeps getting interesting with unexpected twists. Before the offseason had begun, every expert was sure that the San Diego Padres would trade him to get something back before his free agency in 2024. After all, it was a smart thing to do where costs were concerned. Then when the offseason hit, news came that the Friars will wait till the deadline to sign a trade deal for Soto, hoping to keep him for at least half of a season. Then in some circles, rumors swirled that the team might not trade him at all, but can they really afford him?

Soto is in the last year of his salary arbitration and is expected to earn $33 million this year. That’s a huge number for a team that recently made headlines for its financial troubles. Is there any other reason which makes trade the only option for them?

The high salary of Juan Soto might sting the Friars

The Washington Nationals offered a $440 million contract to Juan Soto, which he rejected for a number of reasons. They then traded him to the Pads, who liked him enough to offer a $23 million salary for 2023. And as expected, the slugger has not disappointed the potential the Friars banked on. Unfortunately, it took a heavy toll on their pockets.

The San Diego Padres have been overspending their funds to create a winning team for several years now. Their expenses have been high enough that they currently have the third biggest payroll in MLB, behind only the New York Mets and New York Yankees. But this spending doesn’t really have a strong base since the club hasn’t won a World Series yet. They even missed the playoffs in 2023.

Rapidly crossing the taxation thresholds, their tax amounts are set to skyrocket. The team’s TV contract is ending too, which is a loss of another $50 million in revenue. All of this has led to the Friars taking out a $50 million loan in order to pay their dues in the payroll. Experts expect them to reduce their payroll by $35 million this year and to successfully do that they’d have to trade Juan Soto. The Dominican enters free agency next year, so for the Friars trading him might actually be a better option.

If the Padres decide to keep him they’d have to curtail their spending during this offseason. But wouldn’t that weaken the squad? If they have no choice but to trade Soto, where could he potentially go?

Potential links for Soto

The most popular link is with the Yankees. The Bronx Bombers have a desperate need for a lefty outfielder. Soto fits the bill and also has the necessary swagger to perform in Yankee Stadium in front of a passionate Bronx crowd. Yankees Nation is already looking forward to seeing the 2019 World Series winner wearing Pinstripes. 

Read more – Will The Yankees Go All Out For Juan Soto And Cody Bellinger After GM Brian Cashman Confirms Hunt For Two Left-Handed Outfielders?

The Chicago Cubs are another huge team next in line. The North Siders are going through a rebuild and are surprisingly structured in a way to fit Soto without many issues.

All of this means that the Juan Soto Saga is going to run for a long time before its conclusion. Fans should keep their popcorn ready as the fun has only just begun.

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