Juan Soto returns to L.A. with Dodgers trade rumors swirling

By Rowan Kavner
FOX Sports activities MLB Author

The “fu-ture Dod-ger” chants that greeted Juan Soto in heart subject at Dodger Stadium throughout the All-Star Sport resumed Monday, with the Nationals paying a go to to Los Angeles. 

Per week in the past, Soto heard the refrain from the bleachers. He circled and grinned to acknowledge the assist. On Monday, the chants got here earlier than the coveted commerce goal tripled and knocked in two runs to snap the Dodgers’ eight-game successful streak.

For the reason that second Soto reportedly turned down a 15-year, $440 million extension from the Nationals, commerce rumors have swirled across the precocious, 23-year-old two-time All-Star. And as snug as Soto has appeared on the sphere coping with them, from successful the Dwelling Run Derby final week to delivering a knockout blow to the Dodgers one week later, it’s an unfamiliar scenario that the preternatural expertise by no means anticipated.

“It’s simply been loopy, issues that I by no means suppose had been going to occur to me,” Soto instructed reporters Monday in Los Angeles earlier than the Nationals’ 4-1 win. “First time I’m going by way of it, and it’s been fairly robust.”

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Soto was shocked to listen to the chants on the All-Star Sport, however he loved them, flattered to listen to followers in Los Angeles cheering for him. They, in fact, wish to root him on in a Dodgers jersey. Fan bases of each contending staff, the truth is, hope Soto quickly dons their uniform.

Why wouldn’t they?

At simply 23, Soto is already a franchise-altering participant. By way of his age, the closest Baseball Reference similarity scores are Mike Trout, Frank Robinson and Bryce Harper. Soto’s profession OPS+ (160) ranks larger than these of Corridor of Famers corresponding to Hank Aaron, Willie Mays and Joe DiMaggio. He’s a generational expertise whose greatest years are possible nonetheless forward.

Soto completed every of his first 4 seasons within the majors with an OPS higher than .900 and completed every of the previous three years within the prime 9 in MVP voting. He has carried out his harm with a eager eye, recording extra walks than strikeouts the previous three seasons whereas main the majors in on-base proportion the previous two seasons.

“He’s intimidating within the field,” stated Dodgers All-Star pitcher Tony Gonsolin, the recipient of Soto’s triple on Monday. “He’s received a extremely good two-strike strategy. He widens out, does his entire factor, has superb management of the zone, doesn’t chase ever. I don’t suppose he chased a single ball off me.”

Perhaps quickly, Gonsolin received’t need to face Soto in a Washington jersey, although Soto stated he nonetheless by no means actually thinks about becoming a member of one other staff and can stay loyal to the Nationals so long as they need him.

The haul to acquire such a expertise could be monumental. And three postseasons with Soto may very well be value it for a contending membership.

It isn’t usually {that a} participant of Soto’s extraordinary expertise, below management so long as he’s, turns into obtainable. The Nationals are listening to affords, although they’re below no stress to deal Soto instantly. He isn’t a free agent till after the 2024 season, making the fee to accumulate him exorbitant, even for a Nationals staff with the worst document in baseball. For the fortunate group, it may imply parting with 5 or 6 prime prospects or a mix of prime prospects and younger, controllable, major-league-ready gamers. 

Lately, the Dodgers have demonstrated a willingness so as to add franchise-altering gamers on the deadline when alternative knocks. In 2017, they added Yu Darvish. A 12 months later, they added Manny Machado. Each additions price a medley of extremely regarded minor-leaguers, however the Dodgers swung each offers whereas holding on to their most prized prospects.

Final 12 months’s commerce deadline deal for Max Scherzer and Trea Turner meant parting with extra. Trailing by three video games within the division getting into the deadline, the Dodgers dealt their prime position-player prospect (Keibert Ruiz) and pitching prospect (Josiah Grey) together with two different prospects (Gerardo Carrillo and Donovan Casey) so as to add a sixth and seventh All-Star to their 2021 roster. Scherzer was a rental for the 12 months, whereas Turner is a free agent after this season.

That deal would pale compared to the price of buying Soto, who started to grasp the enterprise of baseball whereas watching his teammates depart. In two years, his franchise went from successful a World Collection to rebooting.

“It was fairly robust, however on the similar time, I used to be comfortable for them,” Soto stated. “They went to a aggressive staff. They may go all the best way and win the World Collection. Didn’t occur to any of them, however I’m glad they get to expertise the playoffs and all that type of stuff.”

Soto was there to cheer on his outdated teammates throughout the Dodgers’ 2021 wild-card sport, sitting behind house plate in a Turner jersey. The 2 have saved in contact since Turner joined the Dodgers, although Soto stated the conversations are extra private than skilled.

Turner believes Soto is supplied to deal with the stresses of deadline chatter, even at his younger age. 

“He’s been an expert each step of the best way, from when he was 19 and known as up,” Turner stated. “So I believe yearly he learns that it’s a enterprise, and it will get slightly tougher. I believe he began to study that final 12 months slightly bit when everybody received traded and whatnot. However I count on him to be an expert and deal with his enterprise and be a very good particular person about it, and I believe that’s what you’re going to get from him.”

The Dodgers are once more among the many groups with each championship aspirations and — even after their current deadline offers — the wealthy farm system required to usher in a participant of Soto’s stature. They’ve 4 prospects ranked in MLB.com’s prime 50 in catcher Diego Cartaya, pitcher Bobby Miller, infielder Michael Busch and outfielder Andy Pages. 

After all, buying Soto earlier than the Aug. 2 commerce deadline may imply parting with all or any of them, plus extra.

Nonetheless, supervisor Dave Roberts isn’t involved the hypothesis will trigger a distraction. 

“The followers are going to do what the followers are going to do, the media,” Roberts stated. “However so far as us, that’s out of our management. We’re making an attempt to get him out.”

Because the Dodgers noticed Monday, that’s simpler stated than carried out.

Rowan Kavner covers the Dodgers and NL West for FOX Sports activities. A proud LSU alumnus, he credit his time as a sportswriter and editor at The Every day Reveille for making ready him for a profession overlaying the NFL, NBA and MLB. Previous to becoming a member of FOX, he labored because the Dodgers’ editor of digital and print publications. When not at a stadium or watching sports activities, Rowan enjoys taking part in along with his canine, climbing, operating, {golfing} and reminiscing in regards to the Mavs’ 2011 championship run. You will discover him on Twitter at @RowanKavner.

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