Washington Nationals shortstop CJ Abrams. James A. Pittman-Imagn Images

Juan Soto trade comes full circle for Nationals

By Seth Carlson | Last updated May 23, 2025 2:28 PM ET

Juan Soto may be a New York Met, but his first team is still cashing in on the $765 million man.

The Washington Nationals, who signed Soto as an amateur free agent out of the Dominican Republic, traded the now 26-year-old outfielder to the San Diego Padres in 2021.

That deal sent pitchers MacKenzie Gore and Jarlin Susana, shortstop CJ Abrams and outfield prospects (turned big leaguers) Robert Hassell III and James Wood to DC in exchange for Soto, who was under club control for three and a half more seasons.

The Soto trade has become quite a heist for the Nationals, and the team experienced a full-circle moment in their walk-off 8-7 win over the Atlanta Braves on Thursday night in the nation's capital.

The position player trio of Abrams, Hassell and Wood accounted for six of Washington's eight runs scored on Thursday night, with Hassell scoring the winning run in extra innings.

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If we didn't already know which side "won" the Soto trade, we certainly found out on Thursday night.

Even the lefty Gore has been a solid starting pitcher for the Nationals, with a 3.67 ERA and 84 strikeouts in 10 starts this season. His strikeout tally leads all of MLB heading into play on Friday.

Only Susana has yet to reach the big leagues for Washington, but he has shown promise at Double-A this season, pitching to a 4.15 ERA in six starts thus far. It should only be a matter of time before he impacts the big league club as the last remaining piece of the Soto trade.

Overall, the Nationals were vindicated in their decision to trade away a generational talent in Soto, even if the payoff wasn't immediate. And as a result, they look to be strongly positioned for the future.

Seth Carlson

Seth Carlson is an experienced writer and editor based in the NYC area with a particular love for all things baseball. He has a demonstrated history of delivering insightful analysis and engaging content across multiple outlets and industries. Seth brings his expertise and commitment to high-quality coverage to Yardbarker’s readers.

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