Washington Nationals

The Texas Rangers are in the mix on Washington Nationals star outfielder Juan Soto but do not expect to be the highest bidder, per Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic and Fox Sports.

The St. Louis Cardinals, San Diego Padres, Los Angeles Dodgers and Seattle Mariners were the reported top four in the Soto sweepstakes on Friday, per Bob Nightengale of USA Today.

However, the Mariners traded three of their top-five prospects—including the No. 1 player in their farm system, shortstop Noelvi Marte—to the Cincinnati Reds for starting pitcher Luis Castillo on Friday evening.

That deal makes it much harder for the Mariners to construct a trade package needed to land the 23-year-old Soto, who has already made two All-Star Games and finished top-10 in the National League MVP race three times in his five-year career.

The 2020 batting champion and two-time Silver Slugger also has 20 home runs, 45 RBI and a .876 OPS this year.

Jim Bowden of The Athletic reported Friday that the Padres and Cardinals were the front-runners but that was subject to change if offers from other teams improved.

The day before, rival MLB executives told ESPN's Buster Olney that the Padres were perceived as the favorites for Soto.

Rosenthal reported on July 16 that the Nationals would begin entertaining trade offers for Soto after he rejected a 15-year, $440 million contract extension. The superstar has been a mainstay in trade talks ever since as teams reportedly line up in hopes of landing one of the game's brightest young talents.

There is, of course, the remote possibility that the Nationals keep Soto around. He is under team control through 2024, and he and the Nats could come to a long-term agreement.

Hector Gomez of Z101 Digital reported Friday that Washington planned to make one final offer to Soto. If that was not approved, then the team planned on dealing him before the Tuesday trade deadline.

But ESPN's Jeff Passan pegged Soto moving before the deadline as an "80-20" possibility during an appearance on the Dan Patrick Show. However, that came with a caveat regarding general manager Mike Rizzo's current asking price.

"If he [Rizzo] continues to stick with the ask that he's put out to teams up until this point, I'm not sure Juan Soto is going anywhere," Passan said. "Because he's been asking for 125 percent of Juan Soto's value."

As of now, it appears the Rangers, who are struggling at 45-54 despite an offseason spending spree that included bringing in star infielders Corey Seager and Marcus Semien, won't be meeting that price. That would bring Texas back to the drawing board this offseason as the Rangers search for their first playoff berth since 2016.

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.

ESPN's Jeff Passan believes there's an 80 percent chance that the Washington Nationals move star outfielder Juan Soto before the Tuesday no-waiver trade deadline, per comments made on the Dan Patrick Show on Friday.

However, Passan's remarks dropped with the caveat that Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo has asked teams for "125 percent of Juan Soto's value," noting that he's been looking for franchises to part with "five or six tippy-top prospects from every organization he's been talking to."

If Rizzo sticks with that line of thinking, then Passan said he's not sure if Soto goes anywhere "for now."

The ESPN reporter mentioned the San Diego Padres and Los Angeles Dodgers as the "likeliest landing spots" if the Nats drop their asking price down a little. He also said that the St. Louis Cardinals and Seattle Mariners were in the picture.

The Nats reportedly began entertaining trade offers for Soto after he rejected the team's 15-year, $440 million contract proposal, per Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic.

Hector Gomez of Z101 Digital reported Friday that the Nats plan to make one final offer to Soto but that they will trade him before the deadline if he does not accept.

Soto is currently under team control through the 2024 season, but it appears his time with the team is coming to a close. His five years with the team include a 2019 World Series win, a 2021 National League MVP runner-up, a pair of All-Star appearances, two Silver Sluggers, the 2018 NL Rookie of the Year runner-up and the 2020 batting title.

That's a great effort for a 23-year-old who's on a Hall of Fame trajectory. Naturally, Rizzo will want a haul back for Soto if he can't come to terms with the star on a long-term deal to stick in town.

For the season, Soto has hit 20 home runs alongside 45 RBI and an .880 OPS.

The Washington Nationals reportedly plan to make superstar outfielder Juan Soto one final contract offer before the Aug. 2 MLB trade deadline.

According to Hector Gomez of Z101 Digital, the Nats will trade Soto before the deadline if he does not accept their offer.

Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reported two weeks ago that Soto turned down a 15-year, $440 million contract offer from Washington.

Rosenthal also reported that the Nationals would make Soto available in trade talks because they believed that if he didn't sign the $440 million deal, he would never re-sign with them.

Despite that, the Nats are apparently making a last-ditch effort to keep the face of the franchise.

The Nationals are not obligated to trade Soto if they can't get a deal done since he is under team control in 2023 and 2024 before becoming a free agent in 2025, but trading him now would likely maximize value.

That is key for a rebuilding Nationals team, as they must get as much as possible in a return for Soto or risk lengthening their rebuilding timeline.

Despite being just 23 years old, Soto is in his fifth MLB season and is among the top hitters in baseball.

He is a two-time All-Star, two-time Silver Slugger Award winner, one-time batting champion and one-time World Series champion.

En route to Washington's World Series title in 2019, Soto hit .282 with a career-high 34 home runs and 110 RBI.

He followed that up with a batting title in 2020 when he hit .351, and he finished second in the National League MVP voting last season when he slashed .313/.465/.534 with 29 homers, 95 RBI and 111 runs scored.

Soto hit below his standards for the first three months of the season, but he has been much better in July and is slashing .243/.400/.480 with 20 home runs and 45 RBI.

Any team would love to get its hands on a young, sweet-swinging lefty like Soto, but it won't be cheap, as the Nats are likely to demand multiple top prospects.

Re-signing Soto is the preferred path since the Nationals could focus their rebuild around him, but if that doesn't happen and they trade him prior to next week's deadline, they figure to receive one of the biggest trade packages in MLB history.

The Houston Astros and New York Mets have reportedly checked on the availability of Washington Nationals first baseman Josh Bell ahead of Tuesday's 2022 MLB trade deadline, but the Nats' asking price is "high."

Jon Heyman of the New York Post reported Friday the Astros exchanged names with the Nationals amid concerns about "slippage" in the play from their first baseman, Yuli Gurriel, while the Mets made an initial offer but "don't seem as likely" to land Bell.

The 29-year-old is a strong bet to get dealt somewhere before the deadline because Washington is focused firmly on the future given its 34-66 record, and the Texas native is scheduled to become a free agent at season's end.

He's one of the top rental hitters available on the market thanks to his .302 batting average, .877 OPS and 13 home runs in 99 games so far in 2022. He mashed a career-high 37 homers with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2019.

Bell told David Aldridge of The Athletic in early July he had a conversation with Nationals manager Dave Martinez last year about wanting a long-term stay in the nation's capital.

"It's one of those things where it's kind of out of my hands," Bell said. "We'll definitely see what happens. But I think the organization knows how pleased I am being here, with the city and all that, and with the community as a whole. I think this organization does pretty much everything right. So I'm definitely happy to throw on the Nationals jersey."

That said, as the rumors have intensified in the days leading up to the deadline, he also expressed a readiness to potentially play in bigger games.

"I feel like it's one of the things that you strive to be in as a kid," Bell told reporters. "It's a scenario where the game's on the line, you want the bat in your hands, you want the opportunity to win it. So, that's what makes this game fun."

Returning to his home state to play for the Astros would represent a jump from a rebuilding club to one firmly in the World Series conversation.

Houston didn't have a need at first base entering the season, but Gurriel has struggled mightily after capturing the 2021 AL batting title. His OPS (.681) and WAR (minus-0.1) both rank 27th out of 28 qualified players at the position, per FanGraphs.

Adding Bell, who's sixth among first basemen in WAR (2.4), would fill one of the few holes on an Astros roster that ranks sixth in OPS (.739) and second in team ERA (3.05).

Meanwhile, the Mets don't have a need at first base with NL MVP candidate Pete Alonso manning the position, but Bell could take over as the club's primary designated hitter. J.D. Davis and the recently acquired Daniel Vogelbach are currently sharing the DH role.

New York, led by big-spending owner Steve Cohen, figures to remain active leading up to the deadline as it attempts to hold off the reigning World Series champion Atlanta Braves in the NL East. It holds a three-game lead in the division race.

Regardless of where he lands, Bell should represent one of the biggest deadline additions for any contender over the next handful of days.

As the Washington Nationals continue to field trade offers for star outfielder Juan Soto, discussions with one team have reportedly gained momentum.

MLB insider Hector Gomez reported Thursday that the San Diego Padres are "in serious talks" with the Nationals regarding a possible trade for Soto with negotiations having "intensified" since Wednesday night.

ESPN's Buster Olney reported earlier on Thursday that the Padres were viewed by rival executives as the frontrunners to acquire the two-time All-Star. San Diego has until the trade deadline of 6 p.m. ET on Aug. 2 to get a deal done with Washington, but there will be competition from other franchises.

Jon Heyman and Joel Sherman of the New York Post reported earlier this week that "at least a half-dozen teams" have reached out to the Nationals about Soto, and the St. Louis Cardinals were perceived as the favorites to land him. Heyman later stated that the Los Angeles Dodgers and Texas Rangers are also involved in the pursuit of the 23-year-old.

Whoever manages to complete a deal for Soto will likely end up paying a substantial price. MLB Network's Mark Feinsand reported Tuesday that he was informed a deal for Soto "is going to be the biggest package you've ever seen returned for a player." The Nationals are believe to be seeking multiple young prospects in order to build for the future.

The Padres have a strong crop of players they'd be able to offer in a trade. Per MLB.com, San Diego's top two prospects are center fielder Robert Hassell III and catcher Luis Campusano.

In the midst of the ongoing trade rumors, Soto has been quiet at the plate. Since returning from the All-Star break, he's gone 3-for-21 in six games with no homers and two RBI. He will have the chance to get right in Thursday's series opener against the Cardinals.

The New York Yankees reportedly aren't a favorite in the Juan Soto sweepstakes.

Brendan Kuty of NJ Advance Media reported Thursday on where the Yankees stand in trade talks for the Washington Nationals' star outfielder:

"While the Yankees remain in on Nationals star Juan Soto, they don’t feel like they’re particularly 'engaged' with Washington, which appears to be seeking younger established major-league players, the person said. The Yankees may be more of a 'fallback' option for Soto, the person said."

That is in line with a report from the New York Post's Jon Heyman, who tweeted that the Yankees aren't at the "forefront" of Soto trade discussions.

Soto, 23, is a two-time All-Star who has amassed 20 home runs and 45 RBI this year.

Soto became the hottest name on this year's trading block after The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal reported that he and the Nats couldn't come to terms on a long-term extension.

Hector Gomez of Z101 Digital reported the Nats planned to make one final offer to Soto but would trade him if he didn't accept.

Nats general manager Mike Rizzo has since made it clear that Soto is available, but the team won't give him away.

"I will say this: We're going to have to get the deal that we want, that makes the most sense, that gets us the opportunity to become a championship organization faster than not trading him. That's it in a nutshell," Rizzo said Wednesday on The Sports Junkies on 106.7 The Fan.

Soto is under team control through the 2024 season, but his time with the Nats could be nearing its close.

The right fielder would be a great fit on any team. He's one of the game's brightest young stars and may be on his way to Cooperstown.

It appears the San Diego Padres could be the front-runner for Soto, per ESPN's Buster Olney.

The Yankees need help in the corner outfield, especially since Joey Gallo is hitting just .161, but they got some in the form of Andrew Benintendi. New York traded three minor league pitchers Wednesday for the All-Star, who is hitting .320 and won a Gold Glove last year.

That's a great consolation prize for the Yanks if Soto doesn't land in the Bronx. As is, the 66-33 Yankees own the American League's best record and are primed for a playoff run. They'll take on Benintendi's former team, the Kansas City Royals, for a four-game home series starting Thursday.

Five days away from the MLB trade deadline, a front-runner has reportedly emerged in the Juan Soto sweepstakes.

Per ESPN's Buster Olney, there is a perception among rival executives that the San Diego Padres are favorites to acquire the 23-year-old superstar from the Washington Nationals.

The ranking of teams interested in Soto seems to change on a daily basis as the clock counts down to the trade deadline Aug. 2 at 6 p.m. ET.

Earlier this week, Jon Heyman and Joel Sherman of the New York Post reported the St. Louis Cardinals were viewed by opposing teams as the potential front-runner for Soto.

The same report from Heyman and Sherman noted "at least a half-dozen teams" have checked in with the Nationals about Soto.

Heyman added that the Padres, Cardinals, Los Angeles Dodgers and Texas Rangers are "more involved" in talks than a team like the New York Yankees because those teams might have a better mix of prospects to entice the Nationals.

Washington general manager Mike Rizzo told The Sports Junkies on 106.7 The Fan (h/t David Scott of the New York Post) that the Nats are "going to have to get the deal that we want" to move Soto.

Amid rumors that the Nationals might try to attach a negative-value contract in the deal with Soto, Rizzo said they are "not going to dilute a return for any player by adding a bad contract."

The Padres have several top prospects who play premium positions they could offer the Nationals. Their top two prospects are center fielder Robert Hassell III and catcher Luis Campusano, per MLB.com.

St. Louis also has multiple middle-of-the-diamond players who could headline a deal for Soto. Left-handed pitcher Matthew Liberatore, catcher Ivan Herrera and shortstop Masyn Winn are among their top prospects.

Soto figures to bring back a significant return if the Nationals trade him. The two-time All-Star is only 23, has two years of team control remaining beyond this season and is on pace to post an on-base percentage of at least .400 for the fifth consecutive year.

Washington Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo said Wednesday that he has no ill will toward outfielder Juan Soto after the All-Star turned down a massive contract offer.

Appearing on 106.7 The Fan's The Sports Junkies, Rizzo made it clear that he has no contempt for Soto: "We made a historical offer to him and he turned it down. Am I upset with Juan Soto for doing that? No. I've known the kid since he was 15. I know him as good as anybody in the world. This isn't personal. This is business."

Rizzo did take issue with the fact that the contract situation leaked to the media, however, saying he was disappointed by it and wanted to know who leaked the information. He added, "Unequivocally, it did not come from me for sure or our front office."

Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reported two weeks ago that Soto turned down a 15-year, $440 million offer, leading the Nats to make him available in trade talks.

If the Nationals do trade Soto prior to the Aug. 2 deadline, they won't use it as an opportunity to dump salary on another team. Rizzo said Wednesday that he won't "dilute the return for any player by including a bad contract."

That answer was in response to a question about struggling starting pitcher Patrick Corbin, who is due $59 million combined between the 2023 and 2024 seasons.

At 23, Soto is among the top young stars in baseball, and he will command a ton of interest and a huge return on the trade market.

Despite his age, Soto is in his fifth MLB season, and he has earned two All-Star selections, two Silver Slugger Awards, one batting title and one World Series championship.

He is also coming off a scintillating performance during the All-Star festivities in Los Angeles last week, winning the Home Run Derby.

The Dominican Republic native set career highs with 34 home runs and 110 RBI in 2019 en route to winning a World Series and hit a career-high .351 in 2020. He finished second in the National League MVP voting last season with a slash line of .313/.465/.534, plus 29 homers and 95 RBI.

Soto got off to a slow start this season, but he has come on in recent weeks and is slashing .245/.401/.485 with 20 home runs and 45 RBI for a Nationals team that has struggled to a 34-65 record, placing them last in the NL East.

Given how far the Nationals have fallen since winning the World Series less than three years ago, a full-on rebuild is likely their best bet, and trading Soto would give them plenty of quality building blocks.

Even though teams are aware Soto has rejected multiple contract offers, the Nationals still have some leverage in potential trade negotiations since he is controllable for a few more years.

He isn't eligible to become a free agent until 2025 since he is arbitration-eligible in 2023 and 2024, meaning the Nats can wait for the perfect offer.

Until then, Soto will remain the Nationals' main attraction, as he is one of the few reasons to watch the team during a miserable campaign.

The Washington Nationals are still fielding offers for star outfielder Juan Soto ahead of the Aug. 2 trade deadline, and the return for the slugger could be historic.

MLB Network's Mark Feinsand reported Tuesday that he's been told a deal for Soto "is going to be the biggest package you've ever seen returned for a player."

Feinsand continued:

"You've never seen a player of Juan Soto's caliber, with two-and-a-half years of control, hit the market. So, you're looking at a package of three to five of a team's top prospects in addition to one or two controllable young players who are big league ready. ... But you're talking about a package of four to six players, two or three of whom can join the Nationals roster and make an impact right now."

Feinsand said he spoke to 17 different front office executives to get their thoughts on where Soto will land. The San Diego Padres and Los Angeles Dodgers were voted as the leading candidates to acquire the 23-year-old.

Soto led the Nationals to a 4-1 win over the Dodgers on Monday, going 2-for-4 with a triple and two RBI. The 2022 Home Run Derby champion is slashing .248/.404/.895 with 20 homers and 45 RBI through 95 games.

While Soto is the most coveted player available on the trade market, there's a chance that teams will struggle to meet Washington's asking price. ESPN's Jeff Passan reported Tuesday that the Nationals could hold on to Soto and try to deal him after the season:

"On the other hand, another executive said, the impediments to a Soto deal are so significant, he sees the next week more as a feeling-out period--a precursor to an offseason move. If the Nationals don't move Soto now, they have two more months of scouting and data analysis of minor leaguers to consider."

Whether Soto is dealt by next week or during the offseason, it's clear that Washington is intent on rebuilding, and trading its star player can help the team do just that.