Page 16 - atd

A16 sports
Wednesday 3 august 2022

Padres obtain Juan Soto from Nationals in blockbuster deal

By BERNIE WILSON and STE- batting .291 with 118 home
PHEN WHYNO runs and 357 RBIs. He's only
AP Sports Writers a couple of years removed
SAN DIEGO (AP) — The San from slugging .695 with a
Diego Padres acquired su- 1.185 OPS and .490 on-base
perstar outfielder Juan Soto percentage — all NL bests.
from the Washington Na- Soto becomes the latest
tionals on Tuesday in one Nationals player to be trad-
of baseball's biggest deals ed as part of the organiza-
at the trade deadline, tion's long-term rebuild and
vaulting their postseason with ownership looking to
chances by adding one of sell the team. Rizzo traded
the game's best young hit- shortstop Trea Turner, ace
ters. Max Scherzer, power hitter
The Padres also obtained Kyle Schwarber and five
first baseman Josh Bell while others at the deadline last
sending a haul of players to year, and Washington has
Washington that included let Bryce Harper, Anthony
rookie left-hander MacK- Rendon and others move
enzie Gore, first baseman/ on in free agency.
DH Luke Voit and prospects The quintet of young play-
James Wood, C.J. Abrams, ers coming from San Diego
Robert Hassell III and Jarlin could join the ones ac-
Susana. quired last year — includ-
Voit was a late addition to Washington Nationals' Juan Soto bats during a baseball game against the New York Mets at Na- ing pitcher Josiah Gray and
the deal after San Diego tionals Park, Monday, Aug. 1, 2022, in Washington. catcher Keibert Ruiz — as
first baseman Eric Hosmer Associated Press the core of Washington's
declined to waive a no- next contender.
trade provision, accord- Star closer Josh Hader, who ager Mike Rizzo set a lofty what's going to happen. Gore, a 23-year-old left-
ing to a person with direct was obtained by San Di- asking price last month af- Start over here or wherever handed pitcher, had a 1.50
knowledge of the move ego on Monday in another ter reports emerged that I'm at." ERA through his first nine
who spoke to the AP on big deal with Milwaukee. Soto rejected the team's He gets to start over in San starts this year but is now
condition of anonymity be- "That's a contagious atmo- latest contract offer of $440 Diego in the midst of his on the injured list with el-
cause negotiations were sphere to be a part of." million over 15 years. second All-Star season, part bow inflammation. Abrams
ongoing at the time. San Diego began the sea- "We set the bar very, very of a loaded lineup that also struggled as a fill-in for in-
After reeling in Soto, a gen- son with a luxury tax payroll high, and one team ex- includes All-Star Manny jured Tatis at shortstop to
erational talent who turns of $229.3 million, just be- ceeded it and that's the Machado and Fernando begin the season, but he's
24 in late October, San Di- low the first threshold, and deal we made," Rizzo said. Tatis Jr. when the shortstop only 21 and has hit .314 at
ego general manager A.J. the trades push the Padres "Props to the San Diego returns from a broken left Triple-A.
Preller also acquired in- into tax territory for the sec- Padres. They're not afraid, wrist. The 20-year-old Hassell, the
fielder Brandon Drury from ond straight season. Soto and ownership's not afraid "It's pretty impressive to No. 8 overall pick in the 2020
Cincinnati. The Padres sent is owed $5,978,022 for the and A.J. Preller's not afraid have those three types of amateur draft, hit an RBI
minor league shortstop Vic- rest of this season and Bell and they were aggressive guys on one team in the single in last month's All-Star
tor Acosta to the Reds for $3,516,844. and we made a deal that same lineup," said Wil My- Futures Game. Wood, a
the 29-year-old Drury, who The package of prospects you call historical." ers, the Padres' longest-ten- 19-year-old outfielder and
has a career-high 20 hom- going to Washington is one Soto remains under team ured player. "Excited to see second-round selection in
ers this year. of the most touted groups control for two more sea- that trio, hopefully in the last year's draft, is batting
After contributing to the ever involved in one deal. sons after this one, which next week or two." .321 with 10 homers and
Nationals' first champion- Gore and Abrams debuted made it no sure thing the Tatis could be 10 days to 45 RBIs for Class-A Lake El-
ship in franchise history in in San Diego this season Nationals would trade him two weeks away from be- sinore. Susana, an 18-year-
2019, Soto hit .351 in 2020 after ranking among the now. The Padres getting ing added to the active old right-hander, has a 2.45
to win the NL batting title. sport's elite minor leagu- him for potentially three roster. ERA with 44 strikeouts in 29
He has been walked more ers, Hassell and Wood are playoff runs even absent With little protection 1/3 innings with San Diego's
than any other player in both top 100 prospects ac- a new deal made this the around him in Washington's complex league team.
major league baseball cording to MLB.com, and peak of Soto's value. lineup, Soto hit .246 with 20 "We were fortunate that it
over the past two seasons. Susana was considered That uncertainty began home runs and 45 RBIs and was a well-rounded trade,"
"The atmosphere here is the best pitcher available weighing on Soto, who 91 walks in 101 games. Rizzo said. "We've got two
they want to win, and not in the 2021-22 international said after Sunday's game In 2,435 plate appearanc- pitchers, two outfielders
just go to the playoffs but free agent class. against St. Louis: "I just want es since making his Nation- and a shortstop, which fit
win a World Series," said All- Washington general man- to get it over with and see als debut in 2018, Soto is our needs perfectly."q