The Mets Potentially Trading For Juan Soto Makes So Much Sense

Denis Poroy. Getty Images.

Jared Carrabis had Jeff Passan on his show this week and Passan said the Mets are a possibility for get Juan Soto. In fact, Passna said it was a "scary possibility". That the Padres would trade a 24 year old outfielder who has had over 129 walks or more each of the past three seasons is such a great opportunity. He has a lifetime .421 on base percentage and a .525 slugging percentage. He's only a year older than Brett Baty and has 149 more home runs. Soto has been around so long, it feels like he should be 30. Soto has a real chance of finishing his career with over 600 home runs.

Now, the only negative is Soto can be a free agent after the 2024 season. That's not ideal but it can still really pay off. Mookie Betts was in a walk year when the Dodgers got him from the Red Sox. The Dodgers wisely and almost immediately paid him $365 million over 12 years. The Dodgers went on to win the World Series that next year.

Boston Globe. Getty Images.

In 1997, the Red Sox traded minor leaguers Carl Pavano and Tony Armas, Jr. to the Expos for Pedro Martinez, who was a year away from free agency. Believe it or not, the Red Sox got a small amount of shit at the time for trading two top prospects for what could be a one year rental. Before the season started, the Red Sox extended Pedro to the tune of 6 years/$75 million. It is one of the  greatest trades in the past 50 years.

Soto would be such a perfect fit for this Mets lineup. They desperately need both a corner outfielder as well as a major bat in the lineup. I know Steve Cohen sees this as well. He was willing to sign Carlos Correa last off-season because Cohen said the Mets needed another power bat in that lineup. I do believe Cohen would do what it took to get Soto if it becomes a real opportunity. 

The Mets did get a major influx of prospects with the fire sale at the trade deadline. Even though it's only for one year, it's going to take some serious prospects to get Soto. Chaim Bloom got shit during his entire tenure as Red Sox GM for the lack of return in the Betts trade. Either AJ Preller (or a new Padres GM if they fire him) would not want that same stain. It's going to cost the Mets.

Juan Soto is going to be a first ballot Hall of Famer barring a catastrophic injury. He's going to have 50 WAR before he's 30. If any team is dumb enough to make him available, you do whatever you can to get him. Once you do, you pay him $600 million dollars and make it so he is on your team for the rest of his career. In a year that has been nothing but pain and suffering for the Mets, this could be the move that gives Mets fans hope.

Advertisement

Well, you'd need to DFA Daniel Vogelbach first. But trading for Juan Soto would help too.