Chicago Cubs Rumors: Padres leave door wide open on Juan Soto trade

While the Chicago Cubs may have their eye on bringing Cody Bellinger back on a long-term deal or the pipedream of signing Shohei Ohtani, it seems more likely that the biggest acquisition the team will make this off-season will come via trade

The trade rumors involving the Cubs wasted little time as immediately after their season concluded, there were reports that the team would be placing a high priority on trading for slugging first baseman Pete Alonso of the New York Mets.

It remains to be seen how much the Mets will be inclined to move Alonso and while Alonso reportedly is interested in playing for the Cubs on a long-term deal, the slugging first baseman recently hired Scott Boras as his new agent. With Boras now representing Alonso, the idea of the Cubs having an assurance of an extension prior to making a trade with the Mets seems unlikely.

Alonso is one season away from reaching free agency and given the prospect capital that it would likely cost, the Cubs likely would want an assurance of a long-term deal before pulling the trigger on a deal.

That is also why the Cubs likely are monitoring the situation developing with Juan Soto and San Diego Padres.

Soto, like Alonso, is a free agent after next season and the Padres left the door wide open with regard to a potential trade of the All-Star outfielder this winter.

Padres' general manager A.J. Preller was asked about Soto's status entering the off-season and he left all options on the table.

"On Soto's future in San Diego
Juan Soto will be entering his final season before he’s set to become a free agent. As such, it seems like all possibilities are on the table. Preller said the team’s “first path” would be to explore a potential extension with Soto, who is coming off an All-Star campaign in which he posted a .275/.410/.519 slash line and a career-high 35 homers.

But considering all the Padres gave up to acquire Soto -- and with Soto due for a raise in his final year of arbitration eligibility -- rumors have emerged that the team might consider trading Soto. Preller didn’t exactly shut down those rumors, saying only, “We've never been a group that says no to anything. I wouldn't read into that. That's just kind of the way we operate.”"

Padres.com

Juan Soto would be the perfect acquisition for the Chicago Cubs this off-season.

Soto turns 25 later this month and there is no doubt that the outfielder likely is a name that the Cubs have at the top of their wish list if not this off-season, then next off-season when he is a free agent.

While there should be a ceiling on the type of prospect package that the Cubs should offer the Mets in a potential trade for Alonso, there should be no ceiling for the offer that the Cubs send to the Padres in a potential trade for Soto. The Padres' asking price likely will start with either pitching prospect Cade Horton or top prospect Pete Crow-Armstrong and there is no doubt that the Cubs should be willing to part with either in a potential deal for Soto.

Soto is a true superstar bat as he has not had a season below a wRC+ of 143 since making his debut with the Washington Nationals in 2018 and has registered at least a 5-fWAR in 3 of his first 6 seasons in Major League Baseball. Intelligent spending and signing a player to a decade-long contract are often not two things that go together but in Soto's case, they do. If the Padres are open for business in terms of trading Soto, the Cubs need to make a deal.

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