There aren't many teams with enough money, prospect capital and guts to try to trade for Juan Soto this year. But the Yankees may be crazy enough to do it.
The idea of adding Juan Soto in the Yankees outfield sounds like a dream for New York baseball fans. But as of now, this is purely speculation, as there are no confirmed reports of Soto being available, shopped, or even discussed in any sort of deal.
FanSided's MLB Insider Robert Murray wrote, "Their [Padres] struggles have led people to ask whether they should sell at the deadline and all indications, at least as of right now, are that the team does not want to move stars Juan Soto, Josh Hader or Blake Snell."
Now, let's also preface this by saying that these are not prospects that should typically be traded. In 99% of trades, these guys should be off limits. But Juan Soto is that 1% of the time. These players should only be made available in a Juan Soto trade, not for any rental deadline options.
Top Yankees infield prospect Trey Sweeney could be moved for Juan Soto
For the Yankees to make an offer for Soto, they are going to need to include multiple of their top 10 prospects. The key idea here is to try to find which of these prospects would be best left off the list, leaving the others to trade for Soto. First thing's first, Anthony Volpe, Jasson Dominguez and Oswald Peraza won't be on this list. Even Yankees top international prospect, Roderick Arias won't be on this list, despite teams showing serious concern for him.
The first prospect to be discussed is Trey Sweeney. Sweeney is a 2021 draft selection that currently plays shortstop, but he will likely move to third base in the future, which lowers his value a bit. The Yankees shouldn't openly shop the 23-year-old but if he was to be traded, the time would be now, in this Juan Soto hypothetical. The 6-2 infielder is currently blocked at the MLB level by Volpe and the Yankees will be active at acquiring infielders before Sweeney ever debuts in the Bronx.
With a questionable future in New York based on the current state of the roster, Sweeney could be on the move. Yankees fans shouldn't be upset if Sweeney is packaged in a Juan Soto deal, but besides Soto, Sweeney shouldn't be discussed in potential trades.
Everson Pereira may be a "must trade" piece in a potential Juan Soto trade
If San Diego considers trading Soto to anybody, they will absolutely be looking for an outfielder or two in return. This outfielder could be a highly rated prospect with huge potential or a former prospect that's adjusted to the MLB well. In the Yankees case, Everson Pereira may have to be involved for this trade because he's the huge potential outfield prospect the Padres would demand.
If that were the case, Yankees must consider moving him in this deal. MLB Pipeline views him as one of their top 10 prospects, as well as a potential five-tool prospect. Even then, the Yankees still have two prospects in their top 10 that are higher rated outfielders than Pereira. Not to mention, Aaron Judge is signed through 2031 and Giancarlo Stanton is signed through 2027. Outfield prospect depth isn't the biggest priority, especially if the Yankees land Soto in this hypothetical trade.
Pereira comes with huge potential at the plate, as he has become more of a power hitter than anybody expected. He's an all-around good athlete that has been in the Yankees organization ever since he signed there in 2017 out of Venezuela. NYY fans should be thrilled to have Everson Pereira as a part of their farm system, but they shouldn't burn the city down if he is made available in a potential Juan Soto deal.
2021 draft pick, Richard Fitts, could be a movable piece for Juan Soto
Every MLB team is eager to acquire pitching. You can honestly never have too much of it, which could make a pitcher quite valuable to a potential Juan Soto trade. The Padres have already lost LHP Mackenzie Gore and RHP Jarlin Susana in the deal to acquire the young slugging, Juan Soto. San Diego is currently sitting on an extremely young farm system, where four of their five top prospects, according to MLB Pipeline, are teenagers. The one other prospect is just 20 and isn't anticipated to debut in San Diego until 2024 or 2025.
So, acquiring a polished pitcher like Richard Fitts could bode well for the Padres. Fitts would instantly slot in as one of the better and more developed pitching prospects in the Padres system. This could make sense for New York because they are always acquiring and signing All-Star level pitching, as seen with Gerrit Cole, Carlos Rodon, Frankie Montas and a majority of their bullpen history.
With four of their starters either signed or under team control through next season, the Yankees have no real reason to rush any pitching prospect up the farm system ladder. The former 2021 draft selection has good potential and a good fastball, but if the Yankees call the Padres about Soto, Fitts shouldn't be off limits.