The San Diego Padres likely will be active at the 2023 MLB trade deadline, however, the player that could get the most impactful return isn’t expected to be up for grabs.
This has been a disastrous season thus far for the San Diego Padres. If not for the New York Mets and their massive payroll they would be the biggest disappointment in the league in 2023. And if not for the Colorado Rockies being one of the worst teams in MLB, the Pads would likely be at the bottom of the National League West.
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The organization expanded its payroll in ways it never had before over the last year but it has not delivered the results hoped for this season. While recently suspended star Fernando Tatis Jr. has been good since returning, other top players like Manny Machado, and big-ticket free agent addition Xander Bogaerts have had major down seasons in 2023.
Unsurprisingly, many around MLB are wondering if the franchise that has always been fiscally conservative will give up on their grand plans and sell off some of their more valuable trade chips and retool the roster and farm system that they depleted in their blockbuster deal for Juan Soto last season. Well, it seems that the answer to that inquiry is yes, and no.
San Diego Padres not taking calls on Juan Soto trade
On Monday, USA Today MLB insider Bob Nightengale wrote about the San Diego Padres plans ahead of the Aug. 1 deadline and it seems they could ship off some of their best pitchers, but they have little interest in trading Soto a year after acquiring him.
“There has been no hint that [Soto’s] available. They instead are likely to shop All-Star closer Josh Hader and starter Blake Snell, barring a sudden and dramatic winning streak,” Nightengale wrote.
Soto earned All-Star honors this season alongside Hader, who is now the premier closer in the game. Both were added to the roster before the 2022 MLB trade deadline and helped the team reach the NLCS last year. Despite his 6-8 record, Snell has posted some of the best numbers of his career so far this season.
Both pitchers are likely to have a strong market for their services before Aug. 1.