WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 31: Juan Soto #22 of the Washington Nationals reacts after being called out on strikes in the ninth inning against the St. Louis Cardinals at Nationals Park on July 31, 2022 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images)
There are three finalists in the running to complete a trade for Washington Nationals star Juan Soto, but one team is reportedly separating itself from the pack.
MLB insider Hector Gomez reported Monday that the St. Louis Cardinals are "intensifying" their pursuit of Soto, becoming "much more aggressive of late in their trade proposals."
However, Jon Morosi of MLB Network reported the Cardinals have not yet been willing to include Dylan Carlson and top prospects in a package together:
In Juan Soto trade talks, #STLCards haven’t been willing to include Dylan Carlson *and* their top prospects in the same offer — at least, thus far. Negotiations are reaching a critical point. @MLBNetwork
The Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres are also still in the race to land the 23-year-old slugger.
Washington understandably has a high asking price for Soto, who is already a two-time All-Star, two-time Silver Slugger Award winner and one-time National League batting champion. Teams have until the trade deadline at 6 p.m. ET Tuesday to get a deal done.
The Cardinals, Padres and Dodgers all have strong farm systems full of talented players to include in trade packages. It was reported last week by ESPN's Buster Olney that San Diego was perceived by rival teams to be the front-runner to land Soto, but now that distinction appears to belong to St. Louis.
If the Cardinals manage to acquire Soto, it would be a significant addition to a team in the thick of the playoff race. At 54-48, St. Louis is one game out of a NL wild-card spot and three games behind the Milwaukee Brewers in the NL Central. Soto would boost an already-potent lineup that averages 4.6 runs per game.
However, the Soto negotiations reportedly have impacted other teams as they try to make moves prior to the trade deadline. There have only been a couple of significant deals done, with the New York Yankees acquiring outfielder Andrew Benintendi and the Seattle Mariners landing starting pitcher Luis Castillo.
Per ESPN's Jeff Passan, "it was Soto's insertion into the trade deadline machine—two weeks ago, after he turned down a 15-year, $440 million contract extension offer—that helped grind the process to a halt."
As negotiations continue, it's unclear which team is willing to meet Washington's asking price. With just over 24 hours remaining before the deadline, there's an increased chance that the Nationals wait until the offseason to deal the outfielder.
Juan Soto Trade Rumors: Dodgers, Padres, Cardinals Seen as Finalists for Nationals OF
Jul 31, 2022
WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 30: Juan Soto #22 of the Washington Nationals talks to teammates before the game against the St. Louis Cardinals at Nationals Park on July 30, 2022 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images)
The MLB trade deadline is fast approaching, and the sweepstakes for Washington Nationals star Juan Soto is reportedly heating up.
According to MLB insider Jim Bowden, the three teams considered finalists to land Soto are the Los Angeles Dodgers, San Diego Padres and St. Louis Cardinals. Teams have until 6 p.m. ET on Tuesday to get a deal done.
Per Jon Heyman of the New York Post, the Texas Rangers had been among the teams pursuing Soto, but it appears they are longer in the running.
Bowden added that the Cardinals are offering the most talent from their major league roster, while the Padres are offering the most talent from their farm system. The Nationals are believed to be seeking a substantial package of young prospects in exchange for Soto.
ESPN's Buster Olney reported Thursday that San Diego was perceived to be the front-runner to acquire the 23-year-old slugger. The Padres have a strong selection of young players to include in trade offers, including their top two prospects, center fielder Robert Hassell III and catcher Luis Campusano.
The Dodgers and Cardinals also have highly touted youngsters they can build trade packages around, but it remains to be seen if they have enough to entice the Nationals to part ways with Soto, who has been in a slump amid the ongoing rumors.
The two-time All-Star is batting .246 with 20 home runs and 45 RBI entering Sunday. Since returning from the All-Star break, Soto has just five hits in 35 plate appearances.
Despite his recent struggles, Soto is one of the best young players in the majors and will turn whichever team he lands with into an instant contender to represent the National League in the World Series.
Cardinals Need To Go All In On Juan Soto Trade Talks amid MLB Rumors
Jul 30, 2022
WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 29: Juan Soto #22 of the Washington Nationals hits a single in the fourth inning against the St. Louis Cardinals at Nationals Park on July 29, 2022 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images)
The St. Louis Cardinals should not leave Nationals Park on Sunday without Juan Soto.
St. Louis has been rumored as one of the teams hot in pursuit of the Washington Nationals outfielder, who is the most coveted player ahead of the MLB trade deadline.
Jon Heyman of the New York Postreported on Friday that the Cardinals were one of four teams at the forefront of the Soto trade talks. San Diego, Texas and the Los Angeles Dodgers were the others.
Former MLB general manager Jim Bowden mentioned on Friday that the Soto discussions were down to four teams, but he did not mention which teams were still in the mix.
The recent reporting suggests the Nationals have vetted most of the viable trade options and come down to a list of teams that can provide what they need in return for the 23-year-old superstar.
St. Louis is not the typical trade-deadline big swinger, like the New York clubs, the Dodgers and Padres typically are, but it has enough in its trade chest to go after Soto without jeopardizing parts of its roster.
The Cardinals enter Saturday three games back of the Milwaukee Brewers in the National League Central and as the final NL wild-card team. St. Louis is level on record with the Philadelphia Phillies at 53-47, and it is four games ahead of the San Francisco Giants.
St. Louis may be in the clear when it comes to earning a playoff berth, but contending for a World Series requires another step up in play, and that is where Soto comes into the picture.
A potential Soto deal would give the Cardinals the most dangerous middle-of-the-order trio in the majors. Paul Goldschmidt and Nolan Arenado are already on the roster.
St. Louis would likely have to give up Nolan Gorman, who was promoted to the big leagues this season, and one of its other top prospects, but the franchise can afford to make such a move.
Someone would be viewed as expendable in the Cardinals lineup if a Soto trade happens, and Gorman's young profile with years of control fits Washington's profile in terms of what it is looking for in return for its superstar.
The Cardinals have to give up Brendan Donovan, Lars Nootbaar or another major-league player to satisfy Washington's trade demands, but that is something the franchise has proved it has been willing to do in the past.
Goldschmidt and Arenado were both acquired in trades, but the St. Louis front office needs to step up in terms of return to the other franchise in the deal. Goldschmidt and Arenado had expiring contract situations and were easier to move. Soto comes with years of team control and the potential to be re-signed to a long-term deal.
St. Louis needs to go after Soto so it can beat teams with its hitting to make up for any potential deficiencies on the mound. The Cardinals currently have Jack Flaherty and Steven Matz on the injured list.
One could argue that the pitching injuries would force the Cardinals on to the starting pitcher market. Frankie Montas is the best available option after Luis Castillo was traded to the Seattle Mariners on Friday night.
The Cardinals could counter that argument by saying they have Adam Wainwright and Miles Mikolas at the top of the rotation. Dakota Hudson is scheduled to come off the injured list to pitch on Saturday. That is a solid three-man rotation, and none of those starters have to go deep into games because of the electric arms in the bullpen, led by closer Ryan Helsley.
A potential Soto trade would allow the Cardinals to catch the Brewers, who have had some offensive shortcomings lately, and earn home-field advantage in at least one playoff series. St. Louis is 29-20 at home and just 24-27 on the road.
Gorman and top prospect Jordan Walker would likely be the headliners of the package in the Soto trade. Walker is a third baseman and does not have a clear path to the majors with Arenado at third and Tommy Edman playing shortstop and second base.
St. Louis could justify its trade package by saying that Walker was not going to get a fair path to the majors and that Gorman's at-bats would be limited by the lineup reconfiguration that would happen with Soto's arrival.
The Cardinals would have Edman, or Dylan Carlson, in the leadoff spot with Tyler O'Neill either batting in front, or behind, the Soto-Goldschmidt-Arenado trio. The ability of Edman and Carlson to get on base would force pitchers to throw to Soto instead of walking him. The potential to get the other stars on base would likely allow O'Neill to have more run-plating opportunities out of the No. 6 spot, if that is where the Cardinals position him.
St. Louis' lineup with Soto would rival any order in the majors, and the deal would still allow the franchise to make a minor deal for a lower-tier starting pitcher if need be.
There is a perfect package of major-league ready players that the Cardinals could put at the top of the trade. They would have to include a handful of other minor leaguers, but Washington could be satisfied with adding Gorman and Walker to its everyday lineup.
Then there is the extra motivation to win the World Series in Albert Pujols' final season. That should not be the driving factor for St. Louis to make the Soto trade, but it would be a nice affect of it if the Cardinals get the deal done before Monday's deadline.
Juan Soto Trade Rumors: 4 Teams Left in Hunt for Star; Padres, Cardinals Lead
Jul 30, 2022
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JULY 27: Juan Soto #22 of the Washington Nationals walks out of the tunnel prior to a game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on July 27, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images)
The Juan Soto sweepstakes is down to just four teams, according to Jim Bowden of CBS Sports, who noted the process is "moving along at a rapid pace."
The San Diego Padres and St. Louis Cardinals are believed to be the front-runners for the Washington Nationals star, Bowden added. However, he noted that is "subject to change as any of the four teams still in the mix could improve their offers at any moment."
The news comes after ESPN's Jeff Passan said Friday on the Dan Patrick Show that he believes there's an 80 percent chance Soto will be moved ahead of Tuesday's trade deadline.
However, Passan noted that Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo, who is asking for "125 percent of Juan Soto's value," needs to lower his asking price, otherwise he's unsure if Soto will get moved "for now."
In addition, Passan mentioned the Padres and the Los Angeles Dodgers as the "likeliest landing spots" if Rizzo drops the asking price. He also listed the Cardinals and Seattle Mariners as potential destinations.
The Nationals began taking trade calls on Soto after he rejected a 15-year, $440 million contract extension, per The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal. However, he is under team control through 2024 with two more years of arbitration eligibility, so Washington can wait for the best deal to move him, whether that be now or two years from now.
Soto is one of the best young talents in baseball and is expected to become one of the highest-paid players in the sport on his next contract.
The 23-year-old is having a solid 2022 campaign, hitting .243/.400/.480 with 20 home runs, 45 RBI and five stolen bases in 97 games. He was also named an All-Star for the second straight season and won this year's Home Run Derby.
Beyond that, he is a World Series champion, two-time Silver Slugger and won the batting title in 2020.
Any team that's interested in Soto must also be willing to take on starting pitcher Patrick Corbin in a trade package, per Bowden. The Nationals want "multiple major leaguers and top prospects" and to "offload" the remainder of Corbin's six-year, $140 million deal.
The Padres have been linked as a possible destination for Soto since it was reported that the Nationals were fielding offers for the star outfielder. According to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, the Friars are interested in pairing him with star shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr.
"An early favorite for Soto just might be the San Diego Padres, the former 'small' market team that’s been full of surprises and thrills the past few years under GM A.J. Preller, a young man who knows the game and loves a gamble," Heyman wrote.
San Diego hasn't been shy about acquiring star talent to help it pursue a World Series title—Eric Hosmer, Manny Machado and Mike Clevinger, to name a few—so it would be no surprise to see it land Soto.
As for the Cardinals, bringing in Soto would undoubtedly give the team an upper hand on the Milwaukee Brewers in the NL Central race and help it make a deep playoff run. Adding him to a lineup that includes sluggers Paul Goldschmidt (.335/.417/.619) and Nolan Arenado (.296/.359/.528) could be dangerous.
No matter if a team is buying, selling or somewhere in between at the MLB trade deadline, each one has something to look forward to in the back half of the...
Juan Soto Trade Rumors: Cardinals Viewed as Front-Runners for Nationals Star
Jul 24, 2022
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JULY 19: Juan Soto #22 of the Washington Nationals bat against the American League during the 92nd MLB All-Star Game presented by Mastercard at Dodger Stadium on July 19, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
Whether Juan Soto is moved figures to remain the biggest storyline around Major League Baseball until the Aug. 2 trade deadline, and the St. Louis Cardinals are reportedly a team to watch.
Jon Heyman and Joel Sherman of the New York Post reported the National League Central team is "viewed by rivals as a potential front-runner to land" the Washington Nationals star.
"The Cardinals line up for what the Nationals want—not just prospects, but young, controllable players already in the majors," according to the report.
Heyman and Sherman highlighted young major leaguers such as Dylan Carlson, Harrison Bader, Tyler O'Neill, Nolan Gorman and Brendan Donovan, as well as prospects such as Jordan Walker, Masyn Winn and Matt Liberatore as potential trade targets in the St. Louis organization if the Nationals do entertain a trade.
It figures to be far from a one-team race, though, as the report pointed to the New York Yankees, New York Mets, Seattle Mariners, San Diego Padres, Los Angeles Dodgers and San Francisco Giants as possible teams that could pursue Soto.
While Washington is under no immediate pressure to trade the 23-year-old considering he is under team control through the 2024 season, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reported last Saturday that it was open to talks after he rejected a 15-year, $440 million contract offer.
That gives teams around the league the chance to acquire a generational talent who has already won a World Series, batting title and two Silver Sluggers to go with two All-Star selections.
St. Louis is 2.5 games behind the Milwaukee Brewers in the National League Central race, and adding someone of Soto's caliber could make the difference down the stretch. It would also provide stability in the long run, since third baseman Nolan Arenado has an opt-out in his contract at year's end.
A lineup with Soto, Arenado and Paul Goldschmidt would be daunting for the rest of the National League, especially if the Cardinals were able to reach the playoffs and unleash it in multiple short series.
It would require parting with some of the young talent throughout the organization, but Soto could be a franchise cornerstone for the foreseeable future.
Paul Goldschmidt, Nolan Arenado Unvaccinated; Out for Cardinals Series at Blue Jays
Jul 24, 2022
PHILADELPHIA, PA - JULY 01: St. Louis Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado (28) is congratulated by St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Paul Goldschmidt (46) after he hits a home run in the 3rd inning and would go on and hit for the cycle during the Major League Baseball game between the Philadelphia Phillies and the St. Louis Cardinals on July 1, 2022 at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
St. Louis Cardinals stars Paul Goldschmidt and Nolan Arenado will not travel with the team to Toronto this week for a series against the Blue Jays as unvaccinated players, per ESPN's Jeff Passan.
Canada requires that all visitors to the country be vaccinated against COVID-19.
A number of teams have joined the Cardinals in leaving players behind for a road trip to Toronto. The Kansas City Royals had a whopping 10 unvaccinated players who couldn't face the Blue Jays, while four teams—the Cincinnati Reds, Philadelphia Phillies and Minnesota Twins—had to leave behind four players.
"When it came time to decide whether I needed the vaccine or not, talked with a couple doctors I knew, told them my story, and really decided I didn't need it," Phillies catcher J.T. Realmuto told reporters on July 12 about his unvaccinated status. "I wasn't going to take it basically because I was told to. I'm not going to let Canada tell me what I do and don't put in my body for a little bit of money. It's just not worth it."
That little bit of money was actually $260,000 of Realmuto's $24 million salary that he was docked for missing the Toronto series. He later told reporters he regretted his choice of words.
The Cardinals, meanwhile, will be without their two best players for games on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Goldschmidt, 34, is hitting .333 with 22 homers, 74 RBI and a 1.019 OPS this season. He's a legitimate MVP candidate.
The 31-year-old Arenado has been nearly as terrifying for opposing pitchers, hitting .299 with 18 homers, 59 RBI and a .897 OPS.
For a Cardinals team battling for a postseason berth—they currently sit 1.5 games behind the Milwaukee Brewers in the NL Central and just one game ahead of the Phillies for the final Wild Card berth—every game is important. Being without their two best players, who chose to remain unvaccinated, is a major blow.
Video: Albert Pujols Gets Standing Ovation from MLB All-Stars During Final HR Derby
Jul 19, 2022
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JULY 18: National League All-Star Albert Pujols #5 of the St. Louis Cardinals talks with the media during the 2022 Gatorade All-Star Workout Day at Dodger Stadium on July 18, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
St. Louis Cardinals slugger Albert Pujols may have only been a ceremonial inclusion in the 2022 Home Run Derby, but his peers and fellow competitors had the chance to recognize his Hall of Fame career on a national stage as a result.
And he just so happened to stun the top-seeded Kyle Schwarber in the first round.
That greatness includes two World Series crowns, three league MVPs, six Silver Sluggers, two Gold Gloves, 11 All-Star selections and, now, five Home Run Derby appearances.
He has just six home runs this season but has launched 685 in his illustrious career and once again had the opportunity to compete in front of the fans at Dodger Stadium after he played for the team during the 2021 season.
Those fans will also get the chance to see more of him after Pujols defeated Schwarber in a 60-second swing-off after they each hit 13 homers in their first rounds.
MLB Futures Game 2022 Results: Shea Langeliers Wins MVP as AL Beats NL
Jul 17, 2022
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JULY 16: Shea Langeliers #33 of the American League celebrates his solo home run in the fourth inning during the SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game against the National League at Dodger Stadium on July 16, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
Jasson Dominguez (New York Yankees), Matt Wallner (Minnesota Twins) and MVP Shea Langeliers (Oakland Athletics) powered the American League to a 6-4 victory over the National League in the 2022 All-Star Futures Game at Dodger Stadium on Saturday.
Dominguez's day started out looking rough when he dropped a routine fly ball in center field that allowed two runs to score for the NL in the bottom of the second. The 19-year-old made up for it in the top of the third with a two-run homer off San Francisco Giants right-hander Kyle Harrison.
Saturday capped off a memorable week for Dominguez. The Dominican star also found out he was being promoted to the Yankees' High-A affiliate in Hudson Valley.
Dominguez has been on the radar of Yankees fans since he signed with the organization as an international free agent in 2019. He was given a franchise-record $5.1 million signing bonus as a July 2 signee.
He earned his promotion to High-A after posting a .265/.373/.440 slash line with nine homers, 36 RBI and 19 stolen bases in 75 games for the Tampa Tarpons.
Three batters after Dominguez's moon shot, Wallner hit a scorching liner over the fence in right field off Harrison to put the AL on top.
The AL added to its run total in the fourth inning when Langeliers, who was acquired from the Atlanta Braves in March as part of the Matt Olson trade, hit a solo shot off Jared Shuster.
Langeliers and Shuster, who was Atlanta's top draft pick in 2020 (No. 25 overall), spent time together as teammates in Double-A last season. The 24-year-old was named MVP of the game after going 1-for-2 and throwing out Corbin Carroll trying to steal third base.
Jared Shuster just gave up a homer to Shea Langeliers in the Futures Game. Sometimes the universe is a little too on the nose.
In defeat, the most impressive play of the game belonged to St. Louis Cardinals shortstop Masyn Winn. The 20-year-old one-upped Pittsburgh Pirates phenom Oneil Cruz with his velocity on a throw to first base to get Yainer Diaz in the top of the second.
On Thursday, Cruz set a Statcast record with a 97.8 mph throw on an infield assist in the Pirates' 3-2 loss to the Miami Marlins.
Winn came into the game trying to break the Statcast barrier and surpassed Cruz's record by nearly three miles per hour.
As @GeoffPontesBA wrote before the game, @MasynWinn said he wanted to break the Statcast INF throw record at the Futures Game and he wanted to break 100 mph.
Statcast has his 2nd inning throw as 100.5 mph. I checked and MLB said they believe it is an accurate measurement.
This is nothing new for Winn, who is in his third season with the Cardinals since being drafted in the second round of the 2020 draft.
Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch noted Winn had more throws of at least 95 mph to first base during the 2021 season than any infielder in professional baseball.
Winn was a two-way player coming out of Kingwood High School when he was drafted. The Cardinals haven't really allowed him to keep doing it in pro ball. He did make one relief appearance at High-A for Peoria last season.
Based on how much better Winn has been as an offensive player in 2022, it's not hard to see why the Cardinals would prefer to keep him at shortstop. The Texas native has a .855 OPS in 75 games across two levels this season. He had a .680 OPS in 98 games last year.
The AL pitching staff was fantastic in shutting down the NL offense. All three runs scored by the NL were unearned because of Dominguez's error.
Tampa Bay Rays right-hander Taj Bradley started the game, tossing a scoreless inning. His command and control weren't particularly sharp, but the stuff looked outstanding.
Taj Bradley struggled with command in the first inning of the futures game, but wow does his stuff look good. A 95-97 mph FB with elite riding action and a 90-91 slider/cutter type pitch with sharp movement as well. A great looking foundation for a young pitcher: pic.twitter.com/BuhxXFhxlj
Emerson Hancock of the Seattle Mariners was the most dominant pitcher of the day for the AL. The right-hander struck out the side in the sixth inning on 17 pitches, showing a big fastball and plus changeup.
Emerson Hancock looked pretty good in the Futures Game. 97 mph, 60 changeup.
— Jason A. Churchill (@ProspectInsider) July 17, 2022
There weren't many highlights to be found on the NL side. Winn's throw was the clear standout moment. The entire team combined for five hits, with Carroll's leadoff double in the first and Pete Crow-Armstrong's leadoff double in the seventh being the only extra-base hits.
NL pitchers did rack up 12 strikeouts in the loss, with eight of the nine used in the game recording at least one punchout.
Dodgers righty Bobby Miller, playing in front of his eventual home crowd, seemed nervous initially. He walked Gunnar Henderson and threw a wild pitch to advance him to third. The Louisville alum did allow a run but struck out three with dazzling stuff.
3 whiffs on off-speed stuff for @Dodgers' Bobby Miller in the first frame of the Futures Game in L.A.
This marks the first time the AL has won the Futures Game since the AL vs. NL format was adopted in 2019. The inaugural game three years ago ended in a 2-2 tie, and the NL took last year's contest 8-3.
Langeliers joins Grant Green (2011) as the only A's prospects to be named MVP of the Futures Game.
Cardinals' Albert Pujols Reportedly Will Compete in 2022 MLB Home Run Derby
Jul 11, 2022
ATLANTA, GA - JULY 07: Albert Pujols #5 of the St. Louis Cardinals is honored before the game against the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park on July 7, 2022 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Brett Davis/Getty Images)
In the final All-Star week of his legendary career, Albert Pujols is going out with a bang.
Not only will he be a legacy member of the National League roster in the All-Star Game, but Pujols will also compete in the 2022 Home Run Derby, according to The Athletic's Katie Woo.
Pujols is the latest addition to a Home Run Derby field that includes New York Mets first baseman and two-time defending champion Pete Alonso and Atlanta Braves outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. Both of them confirmed their participation on social media on Monday. The competition will be held at Dodger Stadium on Monday, July 18.
Pujols has competed in the Home Run Derby in 2003, 2007, 2009 and 2015, but he's never won the event. He placed second in 2003 after losing 9-8 in the final round against Garret Anderson of the Los Angeles Angels.
The 42-year-old announced that he will be ending his 22-year career at the conclusion of the 2022 season. In 49 games this year, Pujols is slashing .215/.303/.672 with five home runs and 19 RBI. He will be making his 11th appearance in an All-Star Game.
It remains to be seen who else will participate in this year's Home Run Derby. Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Kyle Schwarber indicated he'd be interested, and New York Yankees slugger Giancarlo Stanton said there's a chance he'd be in the lineup.
However, a couple of notable names already took themselves out of the running. Yankees star Aaron Judge, MLB's leader in home runs, said he's not interested in competing in the derby. Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vlad Guerrero Jr. also reportedly turned down an invitation in favor of resting his injured wrist.
