Juan Soto is out of the National League East, but heading to a team that the Phillies are directly competing for a playoff spot with in 2022.
The Washington Nationals are set to trade Soto and Josh Bell to the San Diego Padres, according to multiple reports.
On one hand, it’s an excellent long-term development for the Phillies that they’ll no longer have to face Soto 19 times a year. In 67 career games against the Phillies, Soto has slashed .300/.431/.579 with 18 home runs, 53 RBIs, 57 walks and a 1.011 OPS.
On the other hand, the Phillies are two games back of the Padres for the second Wild Card spot and the Padres have now added Soto and Josh Bell in this trade, and probably aren’t far away from Fernando Tatis Jr.