Come the offseason, the San Diego Padres have three options with Juan Soto. Here's FanSided's insider Robert Murray to break them down.
When the San Diego Padres acquired Juan Soto in the summer of 2022, they understood they had three chances at a World Series with him until he became a free agent.
In 2022, the Padres were eliminated in the National League Championship Series. In 2023, they are now 55-59 and in serious jeopardy of missing the postseason. And with Soto becoming a free agent at the end of the 2024 season, it could prompt general manager A.J. Preller and the front office to tackle a difficult question: What to do with Soto?
As it stands, there are three possible options for the Padres, so let's diagnose the situations and likelihood of each.
Padres option No. 1: Trade Juan Soto
Had the Padres sold at the 2023 deadline, trading Soto was a possibility. The team listened to inquiries and set a high-asking price in return for their star outfielder, leading some teams to believe that Preller had no intentions of trading Soto or even star closer Josh Hader, sources tell FanSided.
If the Padres do trade Soto in the offseason, they would get a sizable haul in return. It would not come close to matching the six-player package that they sent to the Nationals in 2022, of course. But an acquiring team would have Soto, one of the best players in baseball, under contract for a full season – and a team that misses out on Shohei Ohtani as a free agent this winter could attempt to overpay for Soto.
A trade, at least as of right now, is unlikely. But before the Padres even consider moving Soto in the offseason, they would surely explore…
Padres option No. 2: Extend Juan Soto
This won't be easy, especially after Soto turned down a record-breaking $440 million contract extension with the Nationals. That's the type of money we'd be talking about a team handing out. And there are more factors to consider than just that.
Soto is represented by Scott Boras, who prefers his clients establish their values on the free agent market, and seldom does extensions. That in itself is working against San Diego if they had any desire to pursue an extension with the big left-handed bat.
After turning down $440 million, none of which was deferred, Preller and the Padres front office surely realize the chances of extending Soto before he becomes a free agent are almost zero.
It does not hurt to ask. It just will surely go nowhere.
Padres option No. 3: Keep Juan Soto
This is the most likely scenario.
Preller has shown that he isn't afraid to have star players entering contract years, evidenced by both Josh Hader and Blake Snell playing on expiring contracts in 2023. And surely he will not be afraid to do the same with Soto, who he had long coveted before acquiring him last season.
The Padres will likely enter the 2024 season with Soto on the roster. If the team is in a strong position for the postseason, they could go all-in for a chance to win a World Series. But if they are in a similar position midseason in 2024 as they were in 2023, then trading Soto becomes a realistic thought.
But all signs point to Soto starting next season in San Diego.