Writer Proposes Trade for Padres to Send Juan Soto to AL East Squad

The off-season has officially begun, and things will only intensify as the days and weeks pass. The San Diego Padres will look to refocus and regroup after a lousy and underwhelming 2023 season. However, the team may look a bit different by 2024.

The Padres are the leaders to sign back NL Cy Young winner Blake Snell, but the cost for him may be too hefty. San Diego may not have money to blow like we've seen in the past couple of seasons, which means they could deal one of their top players. and no, it won't be Manny Machado. It will be none other than their outfield lefty slugger, Juan Soto.

The trade rumors for Soto have been swirling for the better part of half a year now, and this off-season, it may get done. The only question is: Who will be able to pay the price? MLB insider Kerry Miller of Bleacher Report listed ten possible teams who could trade for the three-time All-Star. Well, it could be a powerhouse AL East team, which Miller listed at number three on his list.

"What Boston

should

be worried about this offseason is improving the pitching staff that gave up at least 78 more runs than every other AL East team in 2023. But if the winter meetings roll around and the Padreds are asking every team for its best offer on Juan Soto, the Red Sox aren't likely to say "Thanks, but no thanks."

Trade Package:

2B Nick Yorke and LHP Shane Drohan for Juan Soto

Per Kerry Miller of Bleacher Report

Will that be enough for the Friars? Maybe. Trading Soto would be the quickest way to reduce payroll and add cheap young talent, such as Yorke and Drohan.

None of this is ideal and something we couldn't have pictured when the Padres acquired Soto in the summer of 2022, but here are. The Padres are in dire need of resetting their payroll, and trading Soto is the only viable option.

This could be for the better, but we'll see if the Padres have the stomach to deal their most talented slugger.