Should we be talking about Juan Soto?

[Marshmallowmilkshake]

https://sny.tv/articles/mlb-insider-jeff-passan-mets-scary-possibility-trade-juan-soto-padreshttps://sny.tv/articles/mlb-insider-jeff-passan-mets-scary-possibility-trade-juan-soto-padres



Jeff Passan opines that the Padres are tearing down a little in the offseason, and have three unmovable contracts. That leaves Juan Soto as the one most likely to bring back a reasonable haul, and Passan says the Mets are a likely suitor.



Would you be willing to part with some of our prospect capital to bring Soto to Citi and hope to sign him long-term?

[Benjamin Grimm]

I'm glad I don't have to make these kinds of decisions!



Soto hasn't even turned 25 yet. He's certainly worth giving up some prospects for, but which ones and how many?



I'd want to keep Mauricio and Alverez. I'm less attached to Baty and Vientos, but they probably also have less trade value right now. Gilbert? Acuna? Are they untouchable? Should they be? Like I said, I'm glad I don't have to decide.

[A Boy Named Seo]

looking back at it, the Nats got the Pads (at the time) #1, #2, #4, #5 and #19 prospects per MLB, plus Luke Voit (Josh Bell also went the other way).



The Mets would have a year or less of control so I imagine the prospect price would be a little cheaper, but I still don't really think the Mets would go to such great lengths and expense to re-build the farm to just trade the best of em away so soon.

[Centerfield]

Absolutely. Soto's a stud.



Alvarez is the only guy I'd hesitate to give up. No problem giving up Vientos, Baty or Mauricio. It will likely take a lot more than that.



I haven't seen any of the guys we just got play. But from what I read only Gilbert or Acuna have a chance to be stars, and no one realistically thinks they'll be as good as Soto.

[Edgy MD]

A .421 career on-base percentage is hard to ignore. A hunnert and sixty homers and 639 walks at 25? I'm not sure that's the direction they're going in, but that's actually who'd be coming over and the PEDs are well masked, I'm sure they'll think long and hard.

[batmagadanleadoff]

Or, you know, the Mets could forego the rental for prospects part of the show and hope that Soto opts for free agency, where the Mets could sign him and give up just money to get him, which Cohen has way more of than top-tier prospects. What's wrong with signing someone on an inner circle Hall of Fame trajectory who's just 25 years old?

[metirish]

There is a lot to like , but he rubs me the wrong way, I'm excited about the various prospects the Mets got in the trades , it will be interesting to see what happens

[Gwreck]

=Marshmallowmilkshake post_id=138400 time=1695927914 user_id=119]Would you be willing to part with some of our prospect capital to bring Soto to Citi and hope to sign him long-term?

[Marshmallowmilkshake]

=Gwreck post_id=138443 time=1695964833 user_id=56]
=Marshmallowmilkshake post_id=138400 time=1695927914 user_id=119]Would you be willing to part with some of our prospect capital to bring Soto to Citi and hope to sign him long-term?

[metsmarathon]

i don't think i want to trade any of our prospects for hitters. yeah, yeah, our bats are bad, and we need a high-obp guy. but i don't want to pay the prospect freight on that.

[Marshmallowmilkshake]

An order that has Lindor, Pete, Juan Soto and Alvarez is going to score some runs.



It would probably mean they would be out on Ohtani, but that might be OK.

[Lefty Specialist]

I'd just as soon wait the year and let our prospects mature. Trading for Soto would be an 'all in for 2024' move, and they've discouraged that kind of talk. Can't just get Soto, they'd need to overhaul the rotation and bullpen too. In for a penny, in for a pound at that point.



My gut tells me they won't get either Soto or Ohtani. Next year the kids will have another year under them- Alvarez, Mauricio, Baty, Vientos. By then, you have a better idea what you've got. The pitching after Senga/Quintana is the real worry. None of the guys they got back in the player dumps look to be of help to the rotation in 2024 or 2025, and what's already in the system is a crapshoot. Vasil and Tidwell might be good or they might be the next round of Peterson/Megill- not quite consistent enough.



David Stearns, we turn our lonely eyes to you.

[Centerfield]

Buster Olney says 100% the Padres move him this winter. What say yous? Want him? Wait to sign him as a free agent?



I'd send over any of the kids besides Jett, Gilbert, Alvarez.



So if they want Acuna or Mauricio, I pull the trigger.

[Marshmallowmilkshake]

Maybe we can merge Centerfield's post with this one. Lots of good points in here.

[Centerfield]

Oops. Sorry. rMPL. Please feel free to merge/delete.

[Frayed Knot]

Lefty Specialist wrote: I'd just as soon wait the year and let our prospects mature. Trading for Soto would be an 'all in for 2024' move, and they've discouraged that kind of talk. Can't just get Soto, they'd need to overhaul the rotation and bullpen too.

This is pretty much where I'm at as well.

I mean, sure if the Padres are making him available you check it out. But are they trading prospects for perceived short-term fixes (Pete Crow-Armstrong)

or are they dumping aging veterans and paying the bulk of the freight so as to get the highest caliber prospect? Or, worse yet, are they lurching between

one extreme and the other depending on which way the wind is blowing that day and whether Uncle Stevie saw a shiny new bauble he just couldn't resist

even if it winds up being a case of acquiring a square peg for a round hole?



Not to go all Ambler on y'all, but even if they don't want to SHOW US THE PLAN!!!! I'm just hoping they actually have one they believe in and are willing to

commit to. The alternative is to risk becoming just a richer version of the Wilpons who were forever chasing the last trend, however half-heartedly, before

switching gears to get at the end of the line for the next newest fad.

[nymr83]

No reason to give up half the farm system here



Uncle Stevie just needs to have a tampering-free conversation with Scott Boras. "Hey Scott, yeah Ohtani is too old for me to give him half a billion dollars, but if a guy hit free agency who was younger and worth that, I'd have no problem spending it"

[MFS62]

I don't think it will take a lot to get him.

The Pads are over a barrel - he wants out, they want to lower payroll and move on.

Are our prospects better that other teams' prospects?

That's a different issue.

But, as CF noted, a package of Vientos and/or Mauricio and/or Baty, maybe one of the highly rated AA/AAA pitchers (Vasil, or Smith) and Parada (now that Alvarez has made it, Parada's value to the Mets is lower). Parada is one one of the top catching prospects in the minors, but may have to change positions.

That wouldn't weaken the minor organization much and might even help to simplify competition at some infield positions.



Throw a package like that at them, then gauge their response and make adjustments.



As they used to say in the old neighborhood, "can't hoit".



Later

[metirish]

Soto still rubs me the wrong way , I wouldn't want to be the team that gives him a 10 year deal after trading players to get him

[Edgy MD]

There are 30 team, including the Pads, that he can help. And that's not counting the ones in Abu Dhabi and Karachi. I imagine the Mets wouldn't be the only team making offers.

[Lefty Specialist]

I'd think the Padres would want at least a few top-notch prospects. They gave away a MLB-ready SS in CJ Abrams, and a MLB-ready starter in Mackenzie Gore, plus minor-leaguers who may or may not pan out. Luke Voit, too, who the Mets had briefly in the minors.



So my guess is they'll try to minimize their losses on the transaction. Yes, he's another year closer to FA, but lotsa teams will be calling. I think the Mets should shy away, especially if there's potential damage to the farm.

[Benjamin Grimm]

I'd be more comfortable if it was one of those deals with a contract negotiation window, but those don't happen very often.

[Gwreck]

The only reason to trade prospects for Soto now (rather than waiting a year) is that he's the difference between playoffs/not playoffs in 2024. There seems to be no expectation that Soto won't test the free agent market next season.

[A Boy Named Seo]

The Padres owner Peter Seidler died today (https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2023/11/padres-owner-peter-seidler-passes-away.htmllink). First, rest in peace, guy. But number two, the Pads https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/padres-took-out-50-million-loan-to-help-cover-payroll-per-report-could-juan-soto-trade-help-cut-costs/ borrowed $50M to cover expenses this year and were planning to cut payroll big time. Who knows how that changes now with ownership to change or shift hands.

[ashie62]

Friends don't let friends go after Soto

[Benjamin Grimm]

I just found out that Seidler was the grandson of Walter O'Malley.

[MFS62]

Benjamin Grimm wrote: I just found out that Seidler was the grandson of Walter O'Malley.

If the family inherits the team, they OWE US, and should send Soto to the Mets at no cost.

Later

[G-Fafif]

[kcmets]

Holy moly!

[metirish]

Did they give up their prized assets ?