Scott Boras gives massive update on Padres All-Star

After spending the first four-plus seasons of his career with the Washington Nationals, Soto was traded to the Padres in August 2022. Soto made two All-Star teams with Washington, won a Home Run Derby and two Silver Slugger awards, claimed a batting title and helped lead the Nationals to a World Series title during his time in the nation's capital.

Despite adding the 25-year-old to an already-loaded lineup and roster, San Diego fell short of World Series aspirations last year, dropping a five-game NLCS to the Philadelphia Phillies.

The Padres continued their spending spree following the 2022 season by adding former Boston Red Sox shortstop Xander Bogaerts on an 11-year, $280 million contract in Dec. 2022. Bogaerts and Soto were joined by third baseman Manny Machado and converted outfielder Fernando Tatis Jr. in a stacked starting nine this summer, but the Padres ended up being one of the biggest disappointments in MLB this season.

The club was 62-73 heading into the final month of the campaign and despite a solid September, still finished only 82-80, in third place in the NL West and outside of the playoff picture.

Soto was the only member of the team to play in all 162 regular-season games. He led the league in walks for the third straight year (132) and paced the squad in runs scored (97), home runs (career-high 35), RBI (109), on-base percentage (.410), slugging percentage (.519), OPS (.929) and total bases (295). He also made his third All-Star team over the summer.

Soto has dodged trade rumors for the better part of the past year, being connected to big-market teams such as the Philadelphia Phillies and New York Yankees, among others. He'll become a free agent in 2025.