Following the New York Yankees, the Chicago Cubs also appear to be ‘participating’ in the trade of outfielder Juan Soto (25, San Diego Padres).스포츠토토
On the 28th (Korean time), Bruce Levine of 670 the Score, a radio outlet in the Chicago area, mentioned Soto as one of the alternatives if the Cubs want to strengthen their batting. Soto, whose annual salary this season was $23 million (KRW 31.2 billion), is expected to receive a high salary of around $33 million (KRW 44.8 billion) next season. Since he is eligible for salary adjustment, a large increase is inevitable. However, San Diego, which failed to play fall baseball this season, plans to significantly lower the total team salary. According to CBS Sports in the U.S., high-paid players will be eliminated and the team’s salary, which stands at $250 million (339.5 billion won), will be reduced by about $50 million (67.9 billion won).
Soto is one of the undisputed Major League Baseball (MLB) superstars. His overall MLB performance (6 years) is a batting average of 0.284, 160 home runs, and 483 RBI. He appeared in all 162 games this season, batting average of 0.275, 35 home runs, and 109 RBI. He boasts a remarkable personal career, including being selected as an All-Star three times and winning the Silver Slugger award three times. He is a key resource for the team, but the variable is that he will become a free agent (FA) after next season. If you are not going to get him with a large contract, it may be better to secure future power through a trade.
On the 26th, New York-area sports media SNY reported, ‘According to league sources, the Yankees have already had conversations with San Diego about Soto this offseason. “Dialogue has not yet progressed beyond the initial level,” he said. As the Cubs, following the Yankees, showed interest in Soto, it became more interesting whether his transfer would actually take place.
The key to a trade is, of course, ‘compensation’. Levin also mentioned the name of Christopher Morel (24) when asked, ‘What would the Cubs have to give up to recruit Soto?’ Morel is a utility player who can play both inside and outfield, and played in 107 games this season, recording a batting average of 0.247, 26 home runs, and 70 RBIs. He has an OPS of 0.21, which includes his on-base percentage (0.313) and slugging percentage (0.508). Most hitting indicators have improved compared to last year (16 home runs), his first season since his debut.Levine said, “Sources say San Diego is very interested in Morel,” and “the Cubs also have the strong farm system prospects they need to potentially land Soto.” A scenario in which San Diego would pay a portion of Soto’s 2024 season salary if it secures a satisfactory level of player is also being discussed.