Second Report Confirms Cubs Will Be Involved in Juan Soto Trade Sweepstakes

As we get closer to the start of free agency, we're going to be seeing more rumors pop up and for now one thing is beginning to look like a reality. Of course, we can't say whether the goal will be accomplished, but the Cubs are going after Juan Soto this winter.

On Friday, Bruce Levine was the second to report on the Cubs' interest in pursuing Soto from the San Diego Padres.

Via 670 The Score.

As they prepare for what they intend to be an active offseason, the Cubs will be involved in the trade sweepstakes for Padres star outfielder Juan Soto, sources told 670 The Score.

The San Diego Padres are going to be seriously considering a Juan Soto trade this offseason and while Chicago Cubs fans have been speculating whether or not the team will be aggressive this winter, we now have a clear answer. The Cubs will reportedly pursue a Juan Soto trade.

Bleacher Nation's Michael Cerami, who has broken several Cubs signings and trades during the past few years, was the first to come out and directly report on the team's interest in Soto earlier this October.

Here's what Cerami is hearing.

Up until now, the Cubs’ potential interest in trading for Juan Soto was purely speculative. Logical, sure, but we were just connecting the available dots. But after doing a little digging, I’ve heard from multiple sources that the Cubs’ interest in Juan Soto this offseason is real. That doesn’t mean the Cubs will get a trade done – lots of teams SHOULD have real interest – but the Padres’ ability to shed payroll while adding a great return, and the fit for Chicago, are both unmistakable.

A few weeks ago, a report came out of San Diego that sparked the Soto trade rumors. Kevin Acee wrote about the Padres' financial situation heading into the offseason and it turns out after failing to even reach the postseason, the team isn't too fond of having a high payroll again. At least not to the tune of more than $250 million.

Via the San Diego Union-Tribune.

Only change that is certain is that payroll will be pared; almost all of roster’s core will remain, even as some difficult decisions (Juan Soto) could be made.

The decisions to be made involve whether to keep or trade a potential future Hall of Famer in Juan Soto and what to do with potentially be three-fifths of the starting rotation.

San Diego will end the 2023 season with a payroll of about $253 million. According to Acee, the Padres want to trim that figure by at least $50 million by the start of the 2024 season and trading away Soto could be one avenue the team explores in the offseason.

Soto, who will turn 25-years-old in October, will earn more than $30 million in his final year of arbitration in 2024, before he can test free agency.

Soto had another great season, ending 2023 with a slash line of .275/.410/.519, with a 155 wRC+, while also setting a career high with 35 home runs. A bonafide top-10 player in baseball.

Since making his MLB debut with the Washington Nationals on May 15, 2018, Soto ranks 6th among all MLB players with a 28.4 fWAR and second with a 154 wRC+. Soto has been a star, is a star, and should continue being a star as he approaches his mid-20s.

A.J. Preller, San Diego's  President of Baseball Operations, also hasn't silenced the trade rumors.

Via Padres.com.

But considering all the Padres gave up to acquire Soto — and with Soto due for a raise in his final year of arbitration eligibility — rumors have emerged that the team might consider trading Soto. Preller didn’t exactly shut down those rumors, saying only, “We’ve never been a group that says no to anything. I wouldn’t read into that. That’s just kind of the way we operate.”

The Cubs failed to make the playoffs in 2023, and with the uncertainty around Cody Bellinger's return in 2024, Jed Hoyer knows he must pull off a major move to add to his current roster. Trading for Soto would definitely qualify as one of those moves and you'll probably see the Cubs in many trade rumors this offseason because the free agent list of good to great hitters is fairly short.