Teammate Kim Hae-Sung, who turned down $475 million, is traded to Yankees ahead of free agency
The San Diego Padres’ Juan Soto, 25, is already getting some attention for where he’ll be next year.
“Both the Yankees and Padres just missed the postseason this year, winning 82 games and losing 80,” MLB.com, the official site of Major League Baseball, reported on April 26. Both teams have a big offseason ahead of them and have already started talking about the best player in baseball.”
In 779 career major league games, Soto has a career batting average of .284 (2,704-for-768) with 160 home runs, 483 RBIs and a .954 OPS. In 162 games this season, he batted .275 (156-for-568) with 35 homers, 109 RBIs and a .930 OPS. Soto, 카지노사이트가이드 who made his big league debut in 2018 as a 19-year-old, has been playing in the majors at such a young age that he will be eligible for free agency after next season, his age-25 season.
With a year left before free agency, it’s unlikely that Soto will sign an extension with San Diego. The Padres already have a number of players signed to long-term deals, including Manny Machado (11 years, $350 million), Fernando Tatis Jr. (14 years, $340 million), and Darvish Yu (six years, $108 million). Considering Soto turned down a 15-year, $350 million extension with Washington, it’s likely San Diego would have to offer an unimaginable contract to land him.
With a much higher team payroll and the possibility of letting Soto walk in a year’s time, trading him could be a viable option for San Diego. MLB.com reported, “According to SNY’s Andy Martino, the Yankees and San Diego have held preliminary talks about Soto. Martino characterized the situation as ‘open to a trade if the right price is paid.’ San Diego is not actively looking to trade Soto, but they are not actively ruling it out either.”
However, it remains to be seen if a Soto trade is realistic. Shohei Ohtani (Angels), one of the biggest free agents of the upcoming winter, has been rumored to be traded since last year, but the deal never materialized. This is because he is such a big name player that it is difficult to negotiate a trade price.
Kim, who had his best season this year, batting .538 (17-for-140) with 17 home runs, 60 RBI, 84 runs scored, 38 stolen bases, and a .749 OPS in 152 games, is also eligible for free agency after next season, just like his teammate Soto. Because of this, trade rumors have been swirling about him, but it’s unlikely that the Padres will move him, as he’s their most valuable player.
With a crucial season ahead of them, it will be interesting to see what San Diego decides to do with Stovrig.