Juan Soto to San Diego Padres: deal with Nationals, Bell, stats
San Diego Padres have acquired superstar outfielder Juan Soto, with Josh Bell also going to San Diego.
The San Diego Padres have finalized a deal to acquire outfielder Juan Soto from Washington Nationals.
Soto had previously been made available last month after declining a 15-year, $440 million extension offer. The 23-year-old will go from the team with the worst record in the National League to one in possession of the league’s second wild-card spot.
Bell to Padres
The Padres have also acquired Nationals first baseman Josh Bell with the Nationals receiving a package headlined by lefty Mackenzie Gore and shortstop C.J. Abrams.
Nationals deals
Washington will receive shortstop outfielders Robert Hassell III (Padres’ No. 1 prospect and No. 21 overall, per MLB Pipeline) and James Wood (Padres’ No. 3; No. 88 overall), plus right-hander Jarlin Susana (Padres’ No. 14) in return for Soto and Bell, according to MLB.com’s Jon Paul Morosi.
Padres acquire
Juan Soto and Josh Bell.
Nationals acquire
Mackenzie Gore, Robert Hassell III, C.J. Abrams, James Wood and Jarlin Susana.
Soto’s stats
Soto made his MLB debut in 2018 and went on to become one of the best hitters in the game. He hit .301/.432/.550 (160 OPS+) over his first four seasons, finishing second in the National League Rookie of the Year race behind the Braves’ Ronald Acuña Jr. in 2018 and enjoying two top-five finishes in the NL MVP voting that included a second-place finish to former Bryce Harper last year.
Soto has continued to make his presence felt this year, earning his second straight All-Star selection and winning the Home Run Derby at Dodger Stadium on July 18.