The San Diego Padres have agreed to acquire superstar outfielder Juan Soto from the Washington Nationals, multiple outlets reported on Tuesday.
The Padres also will receive first baseman Josh Bell in the deal that significantly upgrades the second-place team in the National League West.
The move comes one day after the Padres acquired All-Star closer Josh Hader from the Milwaukee Brewers for left-hander Taylor Rogers, right-hander Dinelson Lamet and two prospects — southpaw Robert Gasser and outfielder Esteury Ruiz.
Considered the prize of Tuesday’s trade deadline, Soto is batting .246 with an .894 OPS and has 21 home runs with 46 RBIs this season. Bell is batting .301 with an .877 OPS and has 14 home runs with 57 RBIs.
The Nationals are set to receive left-hander MacKenzie Gore, outfielder Robert Hassell III, shortstop C.J. Abrams, outfielder James Wood, right-hander Jarlin Susana and one major league player in the deal.
The deal is similar to one the Nationals made last year when they sent Max Scherzer to the Los Angeles Dodgers at the deadline and the trade was finalized to also include shortstop Trea Turner. The Nationals received a haul of prospects that included catcher Keibert Ruiz and right-hander Josiah Gray.
A two-time All-Star, the 23-year-old Soto reportedly rejected a 15-year, $440 million extension offer from the Nationals last month.
–Field Level Media ()