SAN DIEGO — With Juan Jose Soto still a year away from free agency, a crucial offseason looms, and the Padres appear to be keeping their options open with their star player.
General manager AJ Preller, who confirmed Wednesday that he will return for a full 10th season, discussed Soto’s situation in his postseason media appearances. Preller said the team’s “first path” would be to explore a potential extension with the 24-year-old.
“We’ll have those conversations here as we get into the winter, see where his head is headed, and find out if there’s any common ground,” Preller said.
If the Padres and Soto cannot reach an agreement on a potential extension, the team will find itself in a delicate position.
Entering his final season in arbitration, Soto is due a raise after making $23 million in 2023. The Padres have several holes to fill elsewhere on their roster, and they may not want to lose Soto for nothing more than a compensation draft next winter.
Because of this, rumors have surfaced that the Padres will consider trading Soto this offseason. On Wednesday, Preller didn’t completely shut down that possibility.
“We have never been a group that says no to anything,” Preller said. “I wouldn’t interpret it that way. That’s the way we work. But, again, I think the first way would be to go down the path of having a conversation with Juan and [agente] Scott Boras and we will see where we are.”
Soto is coming off a season in which he hit a .275/.410/.519 line with a career-high 35 home runs while playing in all 162 games for the first time in his career. He was the Padres’ best offensive player in 2023, and losing Soto would obviously be a huge blow.
Furthermore, Soto stated that he has gained a new level of comfort in San Diego in 2023, following an adjustment period in 2022 following his deadline acquisition from Washington.
“It was great,” Soto said Sunday. “Great city, great stadium, great fans. It’s amazing how much fun I had playing in San Diego all season long. I know there were tough moments, but the fans were definitely there.”
Of course, the Padres gave up a lot of young talent to acquire Soto in the middle of 2022. They could certainly get some long-term pieces back if they trade Soto this winter.
But what is the price of his chances in 2024? Despite a disappointing 2023, the Padres believe their chance to win a championship is still open. Soto, a three-time All-Star, perennial MVP candidate and potential future Hall of Famer, certainly increases those odds.
“We have some key pieces ready for next year,” Preller said. “Juan is a big part of that in the middle of the lineup. As we go into the offseason, our first line with Juan is to see what it’s like with him being part of the Padres going forward.”
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