Juan Soto. David Frerker-USA TODAY Sports

Padres' Juan Soto linked to NL East team

By Mike Santa Barbara | Last updated 7/15/23

While Shohei Ohtani is likely to be the crown jewel of free agency this offseason, San Diego Padres slugger Juan Soto may be in the same position a year from now. With that in mind, Jon Heyman of the New York Post recently speculated that the reigning National League champions could be a fit for Soto when the time comes.

While free agency is still more than a year away for Soto, Heyman says that "baseball people" believe the Philadelphia Phillies are a natural landing spot for a three-time All-Star.

The Phillies have the fourth-highest payroll in baseball and already have $167M allocated for 2025. However, Phillies majority owner John Middleton hasn't been bashful about dolling out gigantic contracts to superstars if it means giving the team a chance at a World Series. After all, Middleton has already signed off on several deals worth more than $100M, landing Bryce Harper (13 years, $330M), Trea Turner (11 years, $300M), Zack Wheeler (Five years, $118M), J.T. Realmuto (Five years, $115.5M) and Nick Castellanos (Five years, $100M).

Furthermore, the Phillies have already thrown a goodwill gesture Soto's way. After this week's All-Star festivities in Seattle, the Phillies reportedly gave Soto a lift back to Philadelphia, where the Padres open up a four-game set Friday.

I can confirm that Juan Soto did fly back with the Phillies players and staff from Seattle to Philadelphia after the All-Star Game last night.

Phillies and Padres open up a four-game set Friday at Citizens Bank Park. https://t.co/taevqnRob9
— Tim Kelly (@TimKellySports) July 12, 2023

Soto and the Padres discussed a potential contract extension ahead of the 2023 campaign but ultimately agreed on a one-year, $23M deal, avoiding arbitration. The 24-year-old still has one more year of arbitration eligibility and could be on the move before then. With the Aug. 1 MLB trade deadline approaching fast, San Diego may have to make a decision on Soto and others. If the Padres don't envision a future in San Diego for Soto, they might trade him for a king's ransom, especially if they keep falling in the standings.

The 43-47 Padres are 8.5 games back of the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League West and six games behind the San Francisco Giants for the NL's third and final wild-card spot.

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