Washington Nationals Juan Soto, Josh Bell traded to San Diego Padres
Washington Nationals stars Juan Soto and Josh Bell have been acquired by the San Diego Padres in a trade deal, the Nats confirmed Tuesday.
The Nationals have acquired shortstop CJ Abrams, outfielder Robert Hassell III, outfielder James Wood and pitcher Jarlin Susana.
Soto was the biggest name on the trading block, with Washington considering bids for the 23-year-old slugger after he turned down a $440 million, 15-year deal to stay with the team.
Soto can be a free agent after 2024, and the St. Louis Cardinals, San Diego Padres and Los Angeles Dodgers were all considered among the clubs most likely to offer a trade package that could persuade Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo to unload his franchise cornerstone.
Juan Soto, 'please come back!' DC area youth baseball team sends message to Nationals star
Some very talented youth baseball players from the D.C. region will make their way to the Cal Ripken World Series in Missouri later this week. The Prince George's County Select/Babe Ruth 12U Team with head coach Joseph Ruddy are preparing to hit the road and take the field!
After contributing to the Nationals’ first championship in franchise history in 2019, Soto hit .351 in 2020 to win the NL batting title. He has been walked more than any other player in major league baseball over the past two seasons.
The package of prospects going to Washington is one of the most touted groups ever involved in one deal. The 20-year-old Hassell, the No. 8 overall pick in the 2020 amateur draft, hit an RBI single in last month’s All-Star Futures Game. Wood, a 19-year-old outfielder and second-round selection in last year’s draft, is batting .321 with 10 homers and 45 RBIs for Class-A Lake Elsinore.
Washington general manager Mike Rizzo set a lofty asking price last month after reports emerged that Soto turned down the team’s latest contract offer of $440 million over 15 years.
READ MORE: Juan Soto rejects 15-year, $440M contract extension from Nationals: report
Soto remains under team control for two more seasons after this one, which made it no sure thing the Nationals would trade him now. The Padres getting him for potentially three playoff runs even absent a new deal made this the peak of Soto’s value.
That uncertainty began weighing on Soto, who said after Sunday’s game against St. Louis: "I just want to get it over with and see what’s going to happen. Start over here or wherever I’m at."
It looks as if he’ll be starting over in San Diego in the midst of his second All-Star season, part of a loaded lineup that also includes All-Star Manny Machado and Fernando Tatis Jr. when the shortstop returns from a broken left wrist.
READ MORE: Nats slugger Juan Soto wins 2022 MLB Home Run Derby
With little protection around him in Washington’s lineup, Soto hit .246 with 20 home runs and 45 RBIs and 91 walks in 101 games.
In 2,435 plate appearances since making his Nationals debut in 2018, Soto is batting .291 with 118 home runs and 357 RBIs. He’s only a couple of years removed from slugging .695 with a 1.185 OPS and .490 on-base percentage — all NL bests.
It looks as if Soto will become the latest Nationals player to be traded as part of the organization’s long-term rebuild and with ownership looking to sell the team. Rizzo traded shortstop Trea Turner, ace Max Scherzer, power hitter Kyle Schwarber and five others at the deadline last year, and Washington has let Bryce Harper, Anthony Rendon and others move on in free agency.
The Nationals made their first deadline move Monday, trading utility player Ehire Adrianza to the Atlanta Braves for 26-year-old outfield prospect Trey Harris.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.