This may be the off-season to trade for Juan Soto

[steveofbradenton]

I saw the Padres want to start bringing down the outrageous amount they are spending for being middle of the pack. Preiler is getting trashed and there is concern about what it will take to extend Soto.

We need a star to add to our line-up. We need a reason to get fans excited.

I really wish he was right-handed, but he is young and extremely talented.

He is a year from FA and will be very expensive. Your thoughts? What would it take?

[ematz1423]

It's a tough question because they're going to want a ton for him and he only has one year left untill hes an FA. If the sox knew an extension was coming along with the deal I'd trade one of Mayer or Anthony and probably more, maybe 2 guys from the top 5-20.

Without an extension I don't risk giving up anyone as talented as Mayer/Anthony for just one year of Soto.

If Soto is put on the block the sox need to be involved though that's for sure.

[redsoxpride34]

I would absolutely make a push to get a deal done for Soto and then lock him up. He'll be entering into his age 25 season which lines up with rest of the young core thats in place and is the exact type of player it makes sense to give a big long-term deal to. He makes much more sense to me than Ohtani. Only thing about him thats not ideal is that he is another lefty but his overall hitting ability outweighs that. He'd slot into LF with Yoshida moving to DH. Could alternate the two to keep them fresh.

[steveofbradenton]

Sept 26, 2023 13:42:22 GMT -5 ematz1423 said:

It's a tough question because they're going to want a ton for him and he only has one year left untill hes an FA. If the sox knew an extension was coming along with the deal I'd trade one of Mayer or Anthony and probably more, maybe 2 guys from the top 5-20.

Without an extension I don't risk giving up anyone as talented as Mayer/Anthony for just one year of Soto.

If Soto is put on the block the sox need to be involved though that's for sure.

I do agree about him extending as part of any trade. It is so difficult looking at our team without a Manny or an Ortiz. I love what Turner did this year, but that is never enough.

I'm not interested in moving a Mayer at all. But some clubs are needing to move elit players for different reasons, and I think we need to be more pro-active than we've been.

[ematz1423]

Sept 26, 2023 14:07:36 GMT -5 steveofbradenton said:

Sept 26, 2023 13:42:22 GMT -5 ematz1423 said:

It's a tough question because they're going to want a ton for him and he only has one year left untill hes an FA. If the sox knew an extension was coming along with the deal I'd trade one of Mayer or Anthony and probably more, maybe 2 guys from the top 5-20.

Without an extension I don't risk giving up anyone as talented as Mayer/Anthony for just one year of Soto.

If Soto is put on the block the sox need to be involved though that's for sure.

I do agree about him extending as part of any trade. It is so difficult looking at our team without a Manny or an Ortiz. I love what Turner did this year, but that is never enough.

I'm not interested in moving a Mayer at all. But some clubs are needing to move elit players for different reasons, and I think we need to be more pro-active than we've been.

I wouldn't be jumping for joy at a trade involving Mayer or Anthony but if an extension was reached with Soto I'd be fine with it. This team is sorely lacking elite players and Soto is one. Give me the guaranteed elite 25 year old vs hoping on the ceiling for Mayer and Anthony no matter how high I am on them and I am very bullish on them. 

I wouldn't be dealing either of them and probably not Teel for just one guaranteed year of Soto though. I have my doubts on whether Soto would accept an extension right now though, he wouldn't really discuss one with Washington from what little I remember about that saga last season. 

[yuchangclan]

Yup. This is the guy you go all-out to obtain. He’s the star this team has been lacking since the Mookie trade. The Red Sox need to get back into the business of having star players and winning games. If this involves trading Mayer(and more, obviously), I think you do it.

[funkybuddha]

He's a slugger for sure but HARD pass for me. He was asking for 300+ while still on Nationals. Before 300+ contracts were this common. After a 5 WAR season what is it going to take to sign him? He is not a great teammate and just seems to me like the kind of player who will never perform to the level of the contract. Add the players it would take to acquire him and the fact he is another LH hitting LF and it doesn't make a ton of sense to me.

[ematz1423]

Sept 26, 2023 15:02:36 GMT -5 funkybuddha said:

He's a slugger for sure but HARD pass for me. He was asking for 300+ while still on Nationals. Before 300+ contracts were this common. After a 5 WAR season what is it going to take to sign him? He is not a great teammate and just seems to me like the kind of player who will never perform to the level of the contract. Add the players it would take to acquire him and the fact he is another LH hitting LF and it doesn't make a ton of sense to me.

Not saying you're incorrect but where are you getting that he's not a great teammate from? I've never seen anything of the sort written about him but I'm not well versed in Washington and San Diego columnists who would know better than I would. 

Also I would say that if anyone is going to perform to the level of a 300+ million dollar contract it's the guy who is a top 5-10 hitter in the league at the age of 24. It's not hard to see him maintaining being that good of a hitter for the next 10-12 years, his OBP numbers are insane as he has never had a season under .400. His K% has been under 20 every year since 2019, he's exactly the type of hitter who I would have no worry about a mega contract for. 

The last two points I can understand though, I wouldn't want to give up that good of a package for just one guaranteed season and he is a LHH LF who honestly with how his defensive metrics have plummeted may be DH only sooner than later which the Sox already have Yoshida right now and probably Devers in a few years who will probably benefit from a lot of DH time. I won't say he's a perfect target but if they can get him and sign him to an extension I'd say you figure the rest out later, but no doubt there would still be risk. 

[redsox04071318champs]

Sept 26, 2023 15:15:52 GMT -5 ematz1423 said:

Sept 26, 2023 15:02:36 GMT -5 funkybuddha said:

He's a slugger for sure but HARD pass for me. He was asking for 300+ while still on Nationals. Before 300+ contracts were this common. After a 5 WAR season what is it going to take to sign him? He is not a great teammate and just seems to me like the kind of player who will never perform to the level of the contract. Add the players it would take to acquire him and the fact he is another LH hitting LF and it doesn't make a ton of sense to me.

Not saying you're incorrect but where are you getting that he's not a great teammate from? I've never seen anything of the sort written about him but I'm not well versed in Washington and San Diego columnists who would know better than I would. 

Also I would say that if anyone is going to perform to the level of a 300+ million dollar contract it's the guy who is a top 5-10 hitter in the league at the age of 24. It's not hard to see him maintaining being that good of a hitter for the next 10-12 years, his OBP numbers are insane as he has never had a season under .400. His K% has been under 20 every year since 2019, he's exactly the type of hitter who I would have no worry about a mega contract for. 

The last two points I can understand though, I wouldn't want to give up that good of a package for just one guaranteed season and he is a LHH LF who honestly with how his defensive metrics have plummeted may be DH only sooner than later which the Sox already have Yoshida right now and probably Devers in a few years who will probably benefit from a lot of DH time. I won't say he's a perfect target but if they can get him and sign him to an extension I'd say you figure the rest out later, but no doubt there would still be risk. 

The Red Sox put up with Manny Ramirez's LF defense first 7.5 years, I'm sure they'd be alright with Soto in LF.

[soxpatsceltics]

I just don't think Soto's a right fielder in Fenway and the Sox already have so much committed to the 1B/LF/DH only types.

If I'm the sox I'm targeting a team like the St. Louis Cardinals as a potential target. They're coming off a disastrous season, probably gonna be making a coaching change and they need to retool bad. They have way too many position players and between Brendan Donovan, Lars Nootbaar, Dylan Carlson, Tommy Edman, and Tyler O'Neil there's a value trade somewhere.

[scottysmalls]

Jarren Duran, Nick Yorke, Nathan Hickey is my guess at what a package might look like. If I were the Red Sox I would not do it.

[redsoxpride34]

Sept 26, 2023 15:51:12 GMT -5 soxpatsceltics said:

I just don't think Soto's a right fielder in Fenway and the Sox already have so much committed to the 1B/LF/DH only types.

If I'm the sox I'm targeting a team like the St. Louis Cardinals as a potential target. They're coming off a disastrous season, probably gonna be making a coaching change and they need to retool bad. They have way too many position players and between Brendan Donovan, Lars Nootbaar, Dylan Carlson, Tommy Edman, and Tyler O'Neil there's a value trade somewhere.

None of those guys represent what the sox truly need and that's star power. Soto immediately becomes the face of the franchise and is only 25 yrs old. The log jam of LF/DH types should clear up this offseason. Duval is a FA and Turner will almost certainly opt out. Casas is your 1B, Yoshida moves to DH and Soto goes to LF. You can rotate them to keep them both fresh as well. 

[redsoxpride34]

Sept 26, 2023 15:59:12 GMT -5 scottysmalls said:

Jarren Duran, Nick Yorke, Nathan Hickey is my guess at what a package might look like. If I were the Red Sox I would not do it.

I would do that in a heartbeat presuming the Sox will have an extension waiting for Soto. 

[yuchangclan]

Sept 26, 2023 16:03:00 GMT -5 redsoxpride34 said:

Sept 26, 2023 15:59:12 GMT -5 scottysmalls said:

Jarren Duran, Nick Yorke, Nathan Hickey is my guess at what a package might look like. If I were the Red Sox I would not do it.

I would do that in a heartbeat presuming the Sox will have an extension waiting for Soto. 

Imagine thinking Nick Yorke is the headlining prospect in a trade that nets you Juan Soto….

[scottysmalls]

Sept 26, 2023 16:03:00 GMT -5 redsoxpride34 said:

Sept 26, 2023 15:59:12 GMT -5 scottysmalls said:

Jarren Duran, Nick Yorke, Nathan Hickey is my guess at what a package might look like. If I were the Red Sox I would not do it.

I would do that in a heartbeat presuming the Sox will have an extension waiting for Soto. 

This is assuming they can’t prenegotiate an extension and to the other poster Jarren Duran is obviously the headliner.

[soxpatsceltics]

Sept 26, 2023 16:02:07 GMT -5 redsoxpride34 said:

Sept 26, 2023 15:51:12 GMT -5 soxpatsceltics said:

I just don't think Soto's a right fielder in Fenway and the Sox already have so much committed to the 1B/LF/DH only types.

If I'm the sox I'm targeting a team like the St. Louis Cardinals as a potential target. They're coming off a disastrous season, probably gonna be making a coaching change and they need to retool bad. They have way too many position players and between Brendan Donovan, Lars Nootbaar, Dylan Carlson, Tommy Edman, and Tyler O'Neil there's a value trade somewhere.

None of those guys represent what the sox truly need and that's star power. Soto immediately becomes the face of the franchise and is only 25 yrs old. The log jam of LF/DH types should clear up this offseason. Duval is a FA and Turner will almost certainly opt out. Casas is your 1B, Yoshida moves to DH and Soto goes to LF. You can rotate them to keep them both fresh as well. 

The Sox need starting pitching not "star power". They consistently put together top 10 offenses in bad years but can't maintain consistent success because of their inability to develop pitching internally. I'll pass on Soto. He's not just a LF type, he's a bad left fielder already and if you're a bad fielder by 25 then you're basically a DH. No matter how good the bat is, I'm not giving any one player that kind of commitment if you're a complete negative in half of the game. He's going to get 350 million and probably a 50FV prospect plus more and I'd rather the Sox use that on pitching or in trades for pitching.

[jdb]

This could be a crazy winter meeting.

www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/columnist/bob-nightengale/2023/10/01/milwaukee-brewers-mlb-playoffs-craig-counsell-world-seires/71017628007/

The Padres are internally leaning towards trading All-Star outfielder Juan Soto, which would free up about $30 million – while trying to slash their payroll by about $50 million.

The Padres won’t get nearly the return that they sent to the Washington Nationals two years ago to acquire Soto, but they should get two top-15 prospects in a team’s farm system, besides freeing themselves an arbitration-record payday for Soto.

The Giants or the Boston Red Sox could be possible fits while scouts predict that he’ll be a first baseman or DH within two years.

[ancientsoxfogey]

I don't deny the appeal of someone like Soto, but at some point as an organization you have to stop chasing at baubles and actually build a functioning roster. All Soto does at this point is exacerbate the LHH and LF/1B/DH issues that are rapidly building up. I'm sure that you could alleviate those problems in other ways, maybe to get some of the pitching we need. Is anyone ready to trade Casas as the centerpiece in a deal for ace-level pitching, if indeed any suitors are entering the market with that type of quality they are ready to part with? Devers, including paying some of his salary for the next decade? Certainly Yoshida could be jettisoned. Duran? I'm not saying all of them, but a couple certainly have to go, almost regardless of what the return is.

[steveofbradenton]

Oct 2, 2023 5:59:22 GMT -5 ancientsoxfogey said:

I don't deny the appeal of someone like Soto, but at some point as an organization you have to stop chasing at baubles and actually build a functioning roster. All Soto does at this point is exacerbate the LHH and LF/1B/DH issues that are rapidly building up. I'm sure that you could alleviate those problems in other ways, maybe to get some of the pitching we need. Is anyone ready to trade Casas as the centerpiece in a deal for ace-level pitching, if indeed any suitors are entering the market with that type of quality they are ready to part with? Devers, including paying some of his salary for the next decade? Certainly Yoshida could be jettisoned. Duran? I'm not saying all of them, but a couple certainly have to go, almost regardless of what the return is.

I agree we have way too many left-handed hitting outfielders, especially.

I started this argument but I have no interest in moving Mayer or Anthony for Soto. I do think we try to move Verdugo and Yoshida for pitching. Casas is not going anywhere. I really hate the idea of someone being JUST a DH. I was, as most of you, excited to see what Yoshida could do, and I believe he will be better next year after experiencing the number of games and all the flying, but I'd explore it.

IMO we need a young star like Soto but only if we stay away from moving our top 2 prospects.

[redsox04071318champs]

Oct 5, 2023 13:38:32 GMT -5 steveofbradenton said:

Oct 2, 2023 5:59:22 GMT -5 ancientsoxfogey said:

I don't deny the appeal of someone like Soto, but at some point as an organization you have to stop chasing at baubles and actually build a functioning roster. All Soto does at this point is exacerbate the LHH and LF/1B/DH issues that are rapidly building up. I'm sure that you could alleviate those problems in other ways, maybe to get some of the pitching we need. Is anyone ready to trade Casas as the centerpiece in a deal for ace-level pitching, if indeed any suitors are entering the market with that type of quality they are ready to part with? Devers, including paying some of his salary for the next decade? Certainly Yoshida could be jettisoned. Duran? I'm not saying all of them, but a couple certainly have to go, almost regardless of what the return is.

I agree we have way too many left-handed hitting outfielders, especially.

I started this argument but I have no interest in moving Mayer or Anthony for Soto. I do think we try to move Verdugo and Yoshida for pitching. Casas is not going anywhere. I really hate the idea of someone being JUST a DH. I was, as most of you, excited to see what Yoshida could do, and I believe he will be better next year after experiencing the number of games and all the flying, but I'd explore it.

IMO we need a young star like Soto but only if we stay away from moving our top 2 prospects.

Was David Ortiz just a DH? I get your point but wow, what a DH Ortiz was. Soto could eventually be in that class or he could man LF the way Manny did for a long time. If Manny wasnt a DH, then I dont know who is, lol. Hard to imagine Soto being much worse.

[steveofbradenton]

Oct 5, 2023 15:09:13 GMT -5 redsox04071318champs said:

Oct 5, 2023 13:38:32 GMT -5 steveofbradenton said:

I agree we have way too many left-handed hitting outfielders, especially.

I started this argument but I have no interest in moving Mayer or Anthony for Soto. I do think we try to move Verdugo and Yoshida for pitching. Casas is not going anywhere. I really hate the idea of someone being JUST a DH. I was, as most of you, excited to see what Yoshida could do, and I believe he will be better next year after experiencing the number of games and all the flying, but I'd explore it.

IMO we need a young star like Soto but only if we stay away from moving our top 2 prospects.

Was David Ortiz just a DH? I get your point but wow, what a DH Ortiz was. Soto could eventually be in that class or he could man LF the way Manny did for a long time. If Manny wasnt a DH, then I dont know who is, lol. Hard to imagine Soto being much worse.

LOL! Agree. Ortiz was a unicorn. I would love to see a roster with everyone being able to contribute defensively to a degree. It is a great luxury to use the DH as a way to get a player off their feet somewhat but still keep their bat in the line-up.

After watching our overall defense this year, I'm not thrilled about having someone who HAS to DH!

[thegoodthebadthesox]

Oct 5, 2023 17:40:53 GMT -5 steveofbradenton said:

Oct 5, 2023 15:09:13 GMT -5 redsox04071318champs said:

Was David Ortiz just a DH? I get your point but wow, what a DH Ortiz was. Soto could eventually be in that class or he could man LF the way Manny did for a long time. If Manny wasnt a DH, then I dont know who is, lol. Hard to imagine Soto being much worse.

LOL! Agree. Ortiz was a unicorn. I would love to see a roster with everyone being able to contribute defensively to a degree. It is a great luxury to use the DH as a way to get a player off their feet somewhat but still keep their bat in the line-up.

After watching our overall defense this year, I'm not thrilled about having someone who HAS to DH!

The counterpoint to this is if you have someone so transcendent at the plate, you can afford to hide a couple defense-first guys at the back of the lineup (Soto + Rafaela is probably a better net outcome than Turner + Duran, as an example).

[freddysthefuture2003]

Oct 5, 2023 17:40:53 GMT -5 steveofbradenton said:

Oct 5, 2023 15:09:13 GMT -5 redsox04071318champs said:

Was David Ortiz just a DH? I get your point but wow, what a DH Ortiz was. Soto could eventually be in that class or he could man LF the way Manny did for a long time. If Manny wasnt a DH, then I dont know who is, lol. Hard to imagine Soto being much worse.

LOL! Agree. Ortiz was a unicorn. I would love to see a roster with everyone being able to contribute defensively to a degree. It is a great luxury to use the DH as a way to get a player off their feet somewhat but still keep their bat in the line-up.

After watching our overall defense this year, I'm not thrilled about having someone who HAS to DH!

If David Ortiz was a unicorn, then Juan Soto surely is as well. Compare their per 162, and they're almost mirror images offensively.

[kwodes]

Oct 1, 2023 20:23:38 GMT -5 jdb said:

This could be a crazy winter meeting.

www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/columnist/bob-nightengale/2023/10/01/milwaukee-brewers-mlb-playoffs-craig-counsell-world-seires/71017628007/

The Padres are internally leaning towards trading All-Star outfielder Juan Soto, which would free up about $30 million – while trying to slash their payroll by about $50 million.

The Padres won’t get nearly the return that they sent to the Washington Nationals two years ago to acquire Soto, but they should get two top-15 prospects in a team’s farm system, besides freeing themselves an arbitration-record payday for Soto.

The Giants or the Boston Red Sox could be possible fits while scouts predict that he’ll be a first baseman or DH within two years.

Casas and drohan for soto and Musgrove something the Padres would do? Contingent on a soto extension.

[freddysthefuture2003]

Oct 6, 2023 9:38:47 GMT -5 kwodes said:

Oct 1, 2023 20:23:38 GMT -5 jdb said:

This could be a crazy winter meeting.

www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/columnist/bob-nightengale/2023/10/01/milwaukee-brewers-mlb-playoffs-craig-counsell-world-seires/71017628007/

The Padres are internally leaning towards trading All-Star outfielder Juan Soto, which would free up about $30 million – while trying to slash their payroll by about $50 million.

The Padres won’t get nearly the return that they sent to the Washington Nationals two years ago to acquire Soto, but they should get two top-15 prospects in a team’s farm system, besides freeing themselves an arbitration-record payday for Soto.

The Giants or the Boston Red Sox could be possible fits while scouts predict that he’ll be a first baseman or DH within two years.

Casas and drohan for soto and Musgrove something the Padres would do? Contingent on a soto extension.

Why would the Red Sox do that though? It creates a hole at 1B that you had finally filled with a potentially elite young hitter, and you're taking on a 31 yr old pitcher with $80m left on a deal whose been dealing with shoulder issues.