While the San Diego Padres are expected to be active ahead of the August 1 trade deadline, executives around MLB believe it would be downright silly if the team didn’t gauge the market for one of their best players.
Along with the New York Mets, the San Diego Padres have been one of the biggest epic fails of 2023. Sure, they don’t have the payroll of the Mets, but there were very high expectations for the team heading into this season after spending far more than years past. Yet, as we enter July the Pads are fourth in the National League West and a whopping eight games out of the final Wild Card spot.
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With the team owning a 38-46 record, there aren’t a ton of signs that they will be able to turn things around and make a serious run at the Wild Card. That is why there has been talk the San Diego Padres could be sellers at the MLB trade deadline. While they are expected to have some key players up for grabs, arguably their best won’t be despite the strong return they would likely garner.
San Diego Padres record (2023): 38-46
On Sunday, USA Today MLB insider Bob Nightengale reported on the latest with San Diego and revealed that “several MLB executives say, [the Padres] would be foolish not to listen to trade offers this month for prized outfielder Juan Soto, turning the trade market upside down.” The organization made a blockbuster trade for Soto last summer and gave up many of its elite prospects in the deal.
However, Nightengale claims the San Diego Padres “have no intention” of listening to offers on the All-Star outfielder. That’s all the more surprising because “there are no indications he’d be interested in signing a contract extension” with the team when he enters free agency in the winter of 2024 after his final season of arbitration eligibility.