This is quite a time to be a season ticket holder for the San Diego Padres.
Great weather, a jewel of a ballpark — and perhaps the most exciting lineup in baseball for the near future.
The Padres landed the biggest prize of this year’s trade deadline — and maybe at any year’s deadline — when they acquired outfielder Juan Soto, a 23-year-old superstar who isn’t due to become a free agent until after the 2024 season. To get him, they had to send six players to Washington, including several of their top recent prospects.
It’s a massive move for an organization that has never won a World Series — but now adds Soto to a team that has Fernando Tatis Jr., Manny Machado and Yu Darvish. San Diego also traded for closer Josh Hader this week.
Here’s a look at the biggest buyers and sellers at this year’s deadline, and how they’ve reshaped their futures.
BUYERS
San Diego Padres (60-46, second NL wild card)
Acquired: OF Juan Soto, 1B Josh Bell, LHP Josh Hader, 2B Brandon Drury, C Cam Gallagher, LHP Jay Groome.
Traded: LHP MacKenzie Gore, SS C.J. Abrams, OF Robert Hassell III, OF James Wood, RHP Jarlin Susana, 1B Luke Voit, LHP Taylor Rogers, RHP Dinelson Lamet, 2B Esteury Ruiz, LHP Robert Gasser, SS Victor Acosta, OF Brent Rooker, 1B Eric Hosmer, 2B Max Ferguson, OF Corey Rosier.
Analysis: It was going to take a big offer to pry Soto loose from the Nationals, and the Padres always made some sense as a destination. They had enough attractive prospects to make the deal happen — and because they were already postseason contenders, adding Soto can benefit them even if he only stays through 2024. Bell brings power to the lineup as well.
Philadelphia Phillies (55-48, third NL wild card)
Acquired: RHP Noah Syndergaard, RHP David Robertson, OF Brandon Marsh, 2B Edmundo Sosa.
Traded: C Logan O’Hoppe, LHP JoJo Romero, OF Mickey Moniak, OF Jadiel Sanchez, RHP Ben Brown.
Analysis: Chasing their first postseason berth since 2011, the Phillies added help in the rotation, the bullpen, the infield and the outfield. Philadelphia moved on from Moniak, the top pick in the 2016 draft.
Seattle Mariners (56-49, second AL wild card)
