The San Diego Padres had to rack their brains a bit, but they got star outfielder Juan Soto from the Washington Nationals in what is one of the biggest deals in Major League Baseball history to take place at the trade deadline.
In early reports of the trade, The Associated Press reported that Padres first baseman Eric Hosmer was part of the trade, according to a person familiar with the negotiations, but Hosmer reportedly declined thanks to a no-claims clause. exchange. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity as negotiations were still ongoing at the time.
The Padres eventually shipped first baseman and pick hitter Luke Voigt to the Nationals in the trade. They also traded left-handed pitcher MacKenzie Gore and prospects James Wood, CJ Abrams, Robert Hassell III and Jarlin Susana.
In addition to Soto, a generational talent who will celebrate his 24th birthday in October, the Padres also got first baseman Josh Bell.
After helping the Nationals win a first World Series title in 2019, Soto won the 2020 National League Batting Championship by batting .351. He has walked more than any other player Majors over the past two campaigns.
“We feel here that the team wants to win. It’s not just about making the playoffs, it’s about winning the World Series, said reliever Josh Hader, acquired from the Milwaukee Brewers by the Padres on Monday. It’s an infectious feeling in the locker room. »
Soto remains under the control of the team for two more seasons after the current one. It was for this reason that it was possible that the Nationals would prefer to keep his services. Soto, however, reportedly turned down a 15-year, $440 million contract offer last month from the Nationals.
So the Padres get a player at the top of his game. Soto will join a group that already has dangerous hitters Manny Machado and Fernando Tatis Jr.
With very little protection around him in the Nationals roster, Soto averaged .246 with 20 home runs, 45 RBIs and 91 walks in 101 games in 2022.
Since making his major league debut in 2018, Soto is averaging .291 with 118 home runs and 357 RBIs.
Gallo at the Dodgers
Joey Gallo’s miserable stint with the New York Yankees came to an end, as the outfielder was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers for minor league pitcher Clayton Beeter.
Gallo, who is 28, had moved from the Texas Rangers to the Yankees on July 29, 2021. In 421 at bats with the Yankees, he will have finally averaged .159 with 25 home runs, 46 RBIs and 194 strikeouts. on sockets.
He was repeatedly booed by the crowd at Yankee Stadium, lost playing time to Matt Carpenter in recent weeks and was no longer in the team’s plans following the acquisition of Andrew Benintendi of the Kansas City Royals last week.
Action in the enclosures
The Minnesota Twins improved their reliever squad at the trade deadline by acquiring Jorge Lopez from the Baltimore Orioles for four prospects on the mound.
Lopez, 29, has blossomed this season, posting a 1.68 GAA and racking up 19 saves in 20 chances. He joins a team whose reliever group was averaging 3.84 heading into Tuesday’s game against the Detroit Tigers.
Jhoan Duran was the team’s only option late in the game, but he’s done a good job so far.
Another star reliever switched sides on Tuesday as the Atlanta Braves sacrificed former endgame specialist Will Smith to get starter Jake Odorizzi from the Houston Astros.
The Braves had the third-best record in the National League heading into Tuesday’s games.
Smith played an important role last fall in the Braves’ march to a first World Series title since 1995. He had, however, voluntarily ceded his role as ninth-inning specialist to veteran Kenley Jansen this season and his effectiveness has plummeted. .
The Astros lead the American West division rankings and they needed relief reinforcements, particularly a left-handed pitcher. They also had an excess of options on the starting side.
Odorizzi will serve as the Braves’ sixth starter for the final two months of the campaign. He has missed 42 games this season due to a left leg injury and is 1-1 with a 4.45 ERA in five starts since returning.
For their part, the Philadelphia Phillies got their hands on David Robertson of the Chicago Cubs in return for minor league pitcher Ben Brown.
Robertson was 3-0 with a 2.23 GAA and 14 saves in 36 outings this season.