Juan Soto is on the move.
According to multiple reports, the San Diego Padres are finalizing a deal to acquire the star outfielder along with first baseman Josh Bell from the Washington Nationals in one of the biggest deadline deals in MLB history.
Mackenzie Gore, CJ Abrams, Robert Hassel III, James Wood and Jarlin Susanna plus Hosmer ($3-39 million after this season) for Wash for Soto/Bell. This is perhaps the most significant trade in the history of deadlines
— Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) August 2, 2022
The package of prospects returning to Washington in the deal includes infielder C.J. Abrams, lefty Mackenzie Gore, outfielders Robert Hassel III and James Wood, right fielder Jarlin Susanna and first baseman Eric Hosmer. Hosmer is due $20 million this season, followed by three years at $13 million per season.
According to Jon Heyman of the New York Post , Hosmer has a no-trade clause in his contract and has yet to agree to a deal, though Heyman added he’s confident they’ll figure things out.
Eric Hosmer has been notified that he is involved in the negotiated deal. He doesn’t have a deal and hasn’t consented yet. The belief is that they will figure it out, however, one way or another.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) August 2, 2022
The Los Angeles Dodgers and St. Louis Cardinals were the other finalists in the Soto sweepstakes, it was widely reported over the weekend.
One of the best young players in baseball, Soto reportedly turned down a 15-year, $440 million deal earlier this year, sparking a flurry of trade rumors and speculation about his future in DC. Angeles, Soto said the Nationals had previously told him they would never trade him, but reversed course after extension talks fell through.
Soto has two more years of club control after this one and is scheduled to become a free agent after the 2024 season.
In 101 games this season, Soto, 23, is hitting .246 with 21 home runs and 46 RBI.
Soto is in the midst of his second straight All-Star season and just won the Home Run Derby for the first time in his career, beating Julio Rodriguez in the final.
A native of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, Soto made his major league debut as a 19-year-old for the Nats in May 2018.
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