Washington Nationals

The Houston Astros have reportedly been "extremely aggressive" leading up to the 2022 MLB trade deadline on Aug. 2.

ESPN's Jeff Passan said Tuesday that Washington Nationals first baseman Josh Bell, who "will be traded" and could be among the first high-profile names on the move, is a target that "makes a lot of sense" for the AL West leaders.

The Astros don't have many weaknesses. They own MLB's third-best record at 64-33, behind only the New York Yankees (66-31) and Los Angeles Dodgers (64-31), thanks to an offense that ranks tied for fifth in OPS (.743) and a pitching staff that ranks second in ERA (3.03).

First base is one of the few areas of need. Yuli Gurriel, who hit .319 with 15 home runs last season, hasn't been able to match that performance so far in 2022. His .671 OPS and -0.2 WAR both rank last among qualified players at the position, per FanGraphs.

Bell could bring some pop back to that spot in the lineup for Houston. He's mashed 40 homers in 241 games since joining the Nats ahead of the 2021 campaign, and he's compiled an .879 OPS through 97 outings so far this season.

The 29-year-old Texas native can become a free agent this winter, which is why he's a virtual lock to get moved as Washington heads toward a rebuild with a league-worst 33-65 record.

In early July, Bell told David Aldridge of The Athletic he spoke with Nationals manager Dave Martinez about wanting to stay with the club for a "long time," but he also understands the situation with the deadline looming.

"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."

The Astros are clearly the best fit on paper. They are the only top-tier World Series contender who ranks inside the bottom 10 of OPS from their first basemen this season, per FanGraphs.

That said, Bleacher Report's Joel Reuter ranked Houston 27th in his updated farm system rankings following the 2022 MLB draft, so it may not have enough assets to survive a pre-deadline bidding war if another team show serious interest in the Nats star.

It sounds like the 'Stros are going to make some upgrades to the roster one way or another before next week, even if they fall short in the Bell sweepstakes.

One week away from the Major League Baseball trade deadline, it seems like there's a good chance that Juan Soto will play for a different team soon.

Per ESPN's Jeff Passan, one anonymous league executive believes the Washington Nationals' ongoing search for a franchise buyer will put more pressure on current ownership to deal the 23-year-old superstar.

"The Nationals currently are up for sale, and the notion that new ownership's first move would be to trade a future Hall of Famer in his early prime, the executive said, is problematic. Dealing Soto now, he said, would offer the new owner a clean slate," Passan wrote.

Soto was a surprise entrant in the trade-deadline sweepstakes. Amid rumors early in the season that Washington could shop him, general manager Mike Rizzo said in a June radio interview the team wasn't looking to move him.

"We are not trading Juan Soto," Rizzo told The Sports Junkies on 106.7 The Fan (h/t ESPN.com). "We made it clear to his agent and to the player."

On July 16, The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal reported the Nationals plan to entertain trade offers for Soto after he rejected a 15-year, $440 million contract extension.

The deal would have surpassed Mike Trout's 12-year, $426.5 million deal with the Los Angeles Angels as the richest in MLB history. The $29.3 million average annual value of the Nationals' offer to Soto would rank 17th among current contracts, ahead of Jose Altuve and Giancarlo Stanton (both at $29 million per season).

The Lerner family, who has owned the Nationals since 2006, announced in April it was exploring a sale of the franchise.

On the same day Rosenthal's report came out, Jon Heyman of the New York Post noted the Nationals are "almost sure to sell" for at least $2 billion, but there's a "behind-the scenes goal" of getting that figure up to $3 billion.

The Nationals have collapsed since beating the Houston Astros to win the 2019 World Series. They are likely going to have their third consecutive last-place finish in the National League East this season. Their 33-65 record is the worst mark in MLB.

Trading Soto, who is under team control through 2024, could bring back multiple high-level prospects and allow the Nationals to get back on track sooner than expected.

A two-time All-Star, Soto is hitting .248/.404/.491 with 20 homers and 45 RBI in 95 games this season. He has posted an on-base percentage of at least .400 in each of his first four full seasons from 2018 to 2021.

The Washington Nationals have the most coveted player on the trade market in star right fielder Juan Soto, but another slugger on the team is also reportedly drawing interest.

Andy Martino of SNY reported Monday that the Nationals are fielding calls for first baseman Josh Bell with the hope of making a deal before finding a landing spot for Soto.

"One league source with knowledge of Bell’s market estimated that five teams were pursuing him, the Astros, Brewers and Mets among them, and that Nationals GM Mike Rizzo was focused on completing a deal so he could move on to trading superstar Juan Soto," Martino wrote.

A 29-year-old switch hitter, Bell is slashing .305/.388/.496 with 13 home runs and 51 RBI in 96 games. He's the only every-day starter on the team with a batting average of at least .285.

Bell is in his second year with Washington after spending the first five seasons of his career with the Pittsburgh Pirates. He's set to become a free agent after this season. Martino noted "there's a sense around the league that Bell is soon to move."

While the Nationals appear to be focused on dealing Bell, the market for Soto is also reportedly heating up. Jon Heyman and Joel Sherman of the New York Post reported Sunday that the St. Louis Cardinals "are viewed by rivals as a potential front-runner" to land the 23-year-old. He's also reportedly being pursued by the New York Mets, New York Yankees, Los Angeles Dodgers, San Diego Padres, San Francisco Giants and Seattle Mariners.

The Cardinals are believed to have the edge over other teams in trade discussions because of their strong farm system.

"The Nats are an organization that relies heavily on scouting, and there's word they like a lot of the Cardinals' young players and prospects," Heyman and Sherman wrote. "The Cardinals line up for what the Nationals want—not just prospects, but young, controllable players already in the majors."

If the Nationals move Soto and Bell, it will kick off a massive rebuild. Washington (32-65) is in last place in the NL East and could use some changes.

Don't expect to see Josh Bell in a New York Mets uniform by the Aug. 2 trade deadline.

Andy Martino of SNY reported Monday there is "no momentum in trade talks between the Mets and Washington Nationals" regarding the first baseman. Martino noted Bell would be a "redundancy" after New York acquired slugger Daniel Vogelbach from the Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday.

Martino also pointed out New York is more likely to land other trade candidates such as Trey Mancini, C.J. Cron, Willson Contreras or perhaps even J.D. Martinez.

That the Mets would be in buying mode ahead of the deadline is no surprise.

They are in first place in the National League East at 59-37 with the opportunity to challenge for their first championship since 1986. The defending champion Atlanta Braves are just 1.5 games back, so any help the Mets can add could go a long way in the division race.

Yet it appears Bell will not be the one to provide that help.

The 2019 All-Star is slashing .305/.388/.496 with 13 home runs and 51 RBI this season for the Nationals after he launched 27 long balls a year ago. Power has never been a question for Bell, who hit a career-best 37 homers during his All-Star season with the Pirates.

However, the Mets added some power when they sent relief pitcher Colin Holderman to Pittsburgh for Vogelbach.

Vogelbach also made the 2019 All-Star Game with the Seattle Mariners and hit 30 home runs. He is slashing .229/.340/.429 with 12 home runs and 34 RBI in 76 games for the Pirates and Mets this season and provides pop on the left-hand side of the plate.

New York is 19th in the league in home runs with 93, so adding Vogelbach could improve one of its weaknesses as it pursues a playoff spot.

Nearly half of MLB is in the mix to acquire Washington Nationals star Juan Soto, but league executives project the San Diego Padres and Los Angeles Dodgers as the favorites, per Mark Feinsand of MLB.com.

In a poll of 17 front-office executives who were asked to name three favorites to land Soto, eight listed the Padres while seven named the Dodgers. No other team received more than three votes.

There was plenty of uncertainty, however, with 13 organizations named as possibilities. Here are the rest of the teams that received votes:

• New York Mets (three votes)
  
• New York Yankees (three)
• St. Louis Cardinals (three)
• Seattle Mariners (three)
• Tampa Bay Rays (three)
• San Francisco Giants (two)
• Boston Red Sox (one)
• Chicago Cubs (one)
• Milwaukee Brewers (one)
• Texas Rangers (one)
• Toronto Blue Jays (one)

"I would probably list 'the field' as the favorite," a National League general manager said.

Soto cannot become a free agent until after the 2024 season, which expands the pool of candidates. Those that aren't contenders this year can still add the talented player to help in each of the next two seasons.

Even small-market teams that wouldn't be able to afford the right fielder's next contract can still get value before he becomes a free agent.

Soto reportedly turned down a 15-year, $440 million extension, which caused the Nationals to open up trade talks, per Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic.

"My assumption is it will be the best prospect package we've ever seen in a trade—and rightfully so," an NL GM told Feinsand. "It's the best player, in their prime, with the most control that I can recall being moved, ever."

The 23-year-old entered Monday with 20 home runs and an .886 OPS in 94 games. Though his batting average is only .245, he has a .292 career mark with a batting title. He also has two All-Star selections and two Silver Slugger Awards and finished second in NL MVP voting last year.

His addition would represent a major boost for any team, but it would make the Dodgers especially dangerous since they already have the best record in the National League at 64-30. With former Nationals teammate Trea Turner along with established stars such as Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman, L.A. would create one of the best lineups in the majors as it seeks its second World Series title in three years.

The Padres are still looking for their first championship and only have one playoff appearance since 2006—which came in the shortened 2020 season. They are in position for a wild-card berth in 2022, but adding Soto would go a long way toward upgrading the lineup. With Fernando Tatis Jr. also nearing his season debut after a wrist injury, it would be like adding two MVP candidates at the trade deadline.

With Tatis and Manny Machado under contract through at least 2028, it would create one of the top cores in the majors as well.

The New York Yankees are reportedly exploring the possibility of trading for Washington Nationals star Juan Soto.

According to Jack Curry of YES Network, the American League East team "reached out to express interest in" a potential trade. The move put the ball in Washington's court as it decides what would be an acceptable trade package for a 23-year-old under team control through the 2024 campaign.

Soto isn't the only slugger on New York's radar, as its own star in Aaron Judge is set for free agency after this season.

ESPN's Buster Olney reported Saturday that Judge is more of a priority, which isn't a surprise since the 30-year-old is the face of the franchise and has told reporters he wants to stay with the Bronx Bombers.

Still, it's not every day a player of Soto's caliber becomes available. He is in the early stages of his prime, and the Yankees or another team could make him a franchise cornerstone for a decade-plus.

Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reported last Saturday that the Nationals were willing to listen to trade proposals because Soto rejected a 15-year, $440 million contract offer.

Many teams probably don't have the prospects or financial resources to commit to both Soto and Judge, but the Yankees operate in the No. 1 market with their own television channel and a payroll that is almost always among the tops in the league.

Forbes ranked them as Major League Baseball's most valuable franchise at $6 billion in March.

Soto is a two-time All-Star and two-time Silver Slugger who has already won a batting title and World Series crown. New York has a World Series-caliber roster already, as evidenced by its MLB-best 65-30 record, and adding the Nationals star ahead of the Aug. 2 trade deadline would be quite the blow for other contenders.

There is reportedly some belief within Major League Baseball that the San Diego Padres will make the biggest push to acquire Washington Nationals superstar outfielder Juan Soto via trade.

According to ESPN's Buster Olney, the Padres are viewed as the "most motivated team" on the trade market by rival executives, making them a strong threat to pursue and land Soto.

Olney also noted that there is a growing feeling within MLB that Soto getting dealt before the Aug. 2 trade deadline is a "real possibility" since his value will only decrease as his salary goes up and he gets closer to free agency.

It was first reported by Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic last week that Soto had rejected a 15-year, $440 million contract offer from the Nationals, marking the third time he had turned down an offer from them.

As a result, the Nationals reportedly opened themselves up to trade offers for Soto, with Rosenthal noting that the organization feels like Soto isn't likely to ever re-sign with them if he wasn't willing to accept the $440 million offer.

Soto is perhaps the pre-eminent young hitter in baseball, as the 23-year-old lefty is already a two-time All-Star, two-time Silver Slugger Award winner, one-time batting champion and one-time World Series champion.

He played a key role in helping the Nats win their first World Series title in 2019, won a batting title the following year with a .351 average and finished second in the NL MVP voting last season with a .313/.465/.534 slash line, 29 homers and 95 RBI.

Soto's overall production is down this season, especially in terms of batting average at .250, but he still boasts a .403 on-base percentage and leads the NL in walks with 79, plus he has hit 20 home runs and 43 RBI with 57 runs scored, earning him an All-Star nod.

He would provide a massive boost to any team that acquires him and would perhaps make them a World Series favorite.

The Padres fall into that category, as they are currently a wild-card team in the NL at 53-42. However, their record lags behind the Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Mets and Atlanta Braves.

San Diego already has among the most potent lineups in the game, but adding Soto alongside Manny Machado, Jake Cronenworth, Eric Hosmer and Fernando Tatis Jr. (when he returns from injury) would be a nightmare scenario for opposing pitchers.

As noted by Olney, Padres owner Peter Seidler has not been shy about making big trades or signings and doling out huge contracts in recent years.

Machado, Hosmer, Yu Darvish, Blake Snell, Mike Clevinger and Sean Manaea are just a few of the big names who have been added to the fold, and Soto could join that list.

If he does, there may be no team in baseball capable of matching a middle of the order comprised of Soto, Machado and Tatis.