SAN DIEGO — The Padres are pulling off one of the biggest deals in the history of the major league trade deadline.
They are in the process of completing a deal to acquire 23-year-old outfielder Juan Soto and first baseman Josh Bell from the Washington Nationals for a haul of prospects that includes shortstop CJ Abrams, left-hander MacKenzie Gore and two of their top three minor league prospects, according to MLB.com, outfielders Robert Hassell III and James Wood. Also in the deal were minor league pitcher Jarlin Susana, their No. 14 prospect.
While first baseman Eric Hosmer was in the initial trade for Soto and Bell, Hosmer used the limited no-trade clause in his contract to veto being included. The Padres proceeded to trade him to the Red Sox, sources said late Monday morning. The Padres were going to send the Nationals all but a small portion of the approximately $45 million owed Hosmer through 2025 and will do the same in the Red Sox deal.
Soto, considered one of the best players in the majors, pumps immediate unquestionable vigor into the Padres’ anemic offense.
Soto is batting .246/.408/.485 with 21 home runs this season. Just three Padres have a higher batting average. He would lead the team in every other category.
He has a career OPS of .966 over five seasons (2,439 plate appearances). That ranks second in the major leagues behind Mike Trout since the start of the 2018 season.
Soto’s adjusted OPS of 159 ranks fourth. The Padres now have four of the top 19 players in adjusted OPS — with Fernando Tatis Jr. (160) third and Manny Machado 19th (136).
Soto’s adjusted OPS is comparable to the game’s all-time greats at the same age (minimum 1,500 at-bats). He is ranked sixth all-time in the metric, which take OPS and adjusts it for factors that allow for a comparison across eras, behind Ted Williams (190), Ty Cobb (171), Mike Trout (169), Stan Musial (169) and Albert Pujols (165).
Soto is not a short-term rental, even if the Padres do not sign him to a long-term contract. He does not become a free agent until after the 2024 season.
Bell, who will be 30 on Aug. 14, will be a free agent after this season. Primarily a first baseman, Bell also has played a little in the outfield. This season he is batting .301/.384/.493, all numbers above his career averages of .266/.353/.471. He has 14 home runs and 57 RBIs this season after hitting 27 with 88 RBIs last year with Washington. He spent the first five years of his career with Pittsburgh.
