Juan Soto-to-Yankees trade gaining momentum.
Looks like a trade that sends Juan Soto to the Yankees is imminent. On Wednesday, a source informed Mark Feinsand of MLB.com that a trade involving the Yanks and Padres for Soto “is appearing very likely. “According to Feinsand, the Yankees are thought to be the “heavy favorite” to sign Soto.
The trade talks between the Yanks and Padres are still going on, according to Jack Curry of YES Network, who first reported on Wednesday that a deal is “likely. “The two parties are reportedly negotiating a potential deal, according to reports from SNY’s Andy Martino and MLB Network insider Jon Heyman. Bryan Hoch, the Yankees beat writer for MLB.com, stated on Tuesday night that there are “hints in the air that Soto to the Yankees is picking up steam again.” According to Curry, “talks have reignited and intensified” between the two clubs on Tuesday.
Prior to the Winter Meetings, trade talks between the two teams reportedly came to a standstill because the Yankees objected to the Padres’ high asking price for the superstar, who is 25 years old. Curry thinks the Yankees will trade four or five players in the end. Michael King and Drew Thorpe, the No. 99 prospect on MLB Pipeline, are pitchers for the Yankees, and a source has confirmed to MLB Network insider Jon Paul Morosi that San Diego has received a proposal involving them.
Despite acquiring outfielder Alex Verdugo from the Red Sox on Tuesday, it is evident that the Yankees are still interested in Soto. The team plans to retain Verdugo, according to manager Aaron Boone. Feinsand was informed by a source that Padres fielder Jake Cronenworth, who is owed $80 million over the next seven seasons, could potentially be a part of a potential deal.
Dec. 5: Why the Yankees shouldn’t lose the Soto sweepstakes after trading for Verdugo (report)
For weeks, Juan Soto has been involved in trade negotiations between the Padres and Yankees. Perhaps Soto won’t fit in the Bronx after trade talks broke down due to the proposed asking price, and after the Yankees acquired outfielder Alex Verdugo. Perhaps that isn’t the case.
As reported by YES Network’s Jack Curry, “talks have reignited and intensified between the Yankees and the Padres.” It appears that even with Verdugo added, the Yanks will still be able to acquire Soto, according to other prominent MLB reporters.
According to ESPN’s Jeff Passan, the Yankees shouldn’t lose the Soto sweepstakes despite their acquisition of Verdugo. Bob Nightengale of USA Today and Jon Heyman of MLB Network also reported along similar lines.This would corroborate what general manager of the Yankees Brian Cashman stated on Tuesday, namely that the team is hoping to add two outfielders who can hit left handed. It’s possible that the Yankees will try to trade Verdugo for Soto, as Jim Bowden of The Athletic mentioned.
Dec. 5: Yanks and Padres’ Soto talks show “no movement.”
As of Tuesday afternoon, MLB Network insider Jon Heyman reports there has been “no movement” between the Yankees and Padres regarding the Soto trade. Over the weekend, a league source told Brendan Kuty of The Athletic (subscription required) that trade talks between the two teams were “bound to heat back up” during the Winter Meetings.
According to Heyman, the Yankees don’t want to trade either pitcher, and the Padres want Michael King and Drew Thorpe (MLB Pipeline’s No. 99 prospect). This is the same standoff that existed when negotiations broke down last Friday.
December 4: It’s thought that the Padres “have offers from about five teams for Soto.”
According to MLB Network insider Jon Heyman, the Padres “have offers from about five teams for Soto,” including the Giants and Blue Jays, who are thought to be the two teams vying for Shohei Ohtani. Heyman provided that information on Monday in a piece for the New York Post. Although San Diego’s asking price has apparently put the Yankees and Soto at a standstill in their negotiations, the Yankees are still interested in Soto.
The Yankees believe that the Padres’ offers of an 8-for-2 trade for Soto and center fielder Trent Grisham are too high. This was reported on Sunday by Brendan Kuty of The Athletic (subscription required). The pitchers Michael King, Clarke Schmidt, Jhony Brito, and Randy Vรกsquez of New York, as well as top prospects Drew Thorpe and Everson Pereira, and infielder Oswald Peraza who was ranked third by the Yanks going into the 2023 season are among the players who are allegedly on the table.
According to Kuty, the Yankees would be especially reluctant to give up King or Thorpe. According to a source who spoke with Kuty, talks between the Yanks and Padres are anticipated to resume during the Winter Meetings. Although Heyman surmised that a trade for Soto could be a fit for the Mariners after they traded left fielder Jarred Kelenic to the Braves on Sunday, the other teams involved in the Soto trade talks are unknown. The M’s traded third baseman Eugenio Suรกrez to the D-backs on November 22 and included Marco Gonzales and Evan White in exchange to reduce payroll.
According to Ken Rosenthal, Dennis Lin, and Brendan Kuty of The Athletic (subscription required), the Padres, who are rumored to be giving MLB-ready pitching priority in any Soto trade, may also receive an offer from Toronto for pitchers Bowden Francis and Ricky Tiedemann (MLB Pipeline’s No. 31 prospect).
Dec. 2: Yanks and Padres are “far apart,” and the Blue Jays are emerging as Soto’s suitor (report)
Numerous reports on Friday state that the Yankees and Padres are no longer discussing a trade for outfielder Juan Soto, at least not right now. That might create an opportunity for the Blue Jays, whose negotiations with the Padres for the outfielder, 25, are supposedly “intensifying,” according to Hรฉctor Gรณmez of Z101 Digital in the Dominican Republic.
Toronto is supposedly still in the running for Shohei Ohtani, but in the unlikely event that the Blue Jays are unable to sign him, Soto, a free agent after 2024, would be a valuable addition. According to Ken Rosenthal, Dennis Lin, and Brendan Kuty of The Athletic (subscription required), the Padres who are rumored to be in the market for pitching may look to acquire one or more pitchers in exchange for pitchers Alek Manoah, Bowden Francis, and Ricky Tiedemann (MLB Pipeline’s No. 31 prospect).
Also, on Friday afternoon, Rosenthal, Lin, and Kuty reported that the Yankees and Padres were “far apart” in their discussions about trading Soto. According to SNY’s Andy Martino, San Diego pursued a possible package of pitchers Michael King and Drew Thorpe (ranked No. 99 by MLB Pipeline) along with four or five additional prospects from New York. In light of the uncertain prospects of a contract extension, the Yankees believe that the request is excessive for Soto’s one guaranteed year of services. According to Martino, as of Friday night, “no deal was close”.
The Padres inquired about young shortstop Anthony Volpe and outfielder Jasson Domรญnguez (ranked 74th overall), according to MLB Network insider Jon Heyman’s report earlier on Friday. However, the Yankees are unwilling to trade either player. Heyman mentioned pitchers that San Diego might be interested in: Chase Hampton (No. 95 overall prospect), King, and Clarke Schmidt. He also questioned whether New York would make Thorpe available.
The Athletic reports that in trade negotiations with the Yankees, the Padres have suggested adding outfielder Trent Grisham, who is signed through 2025, to Soto’s roster. San Diego might be able to obtain outside pitching in exchange for Soto if they include a third team in the deal, possibly the Mariners.
In addition to Soto, Heyman reports that the Yankees are reportedly in on free agents Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Cody Bellinger, and they “are going to be disappointed if they don’t land at least one of them.”
Nov. 28: The increased likelihood of a Soto trade
Juan Soto is “almost certain to be traded,” according to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic (subscription required), who cited the Padres’ need for pitching that could be acquired through a trade and their payroll load. Rosenthal stated, “The question is not whether Soto will be traded.” “The question is which team will acquire him.”
MLB Trade Rumors projects that 25-year-old Soto, who is about to enter his final year of team control, will earn $33 million in arbitration. The Padres may be in a position where trading Soto can reduce payroll and bring in the controllable young talent they’re looking for, given the passing of Padres owner Peter Seidler earlier this month and a projected payroll that could put San Diego above the luxury tax for a fourth straight year.
According to rival Padres decision-makers, Soto is “eminently available,” according to MLB Network insider Jon Heyman. Aside from maybe Shohei Ohtani, Soto will undoubtedly be the most exciting and talented player moving if he is traded. Many teams, including the Yankees, Mets, and Giants, will be vying for the opportunity to work with one of baseball’s top players for a season and possibly break records by signing Soto to a long-term deal.