St. Louis Cardinals: Predicting a potential Juan Soto trade

The trades that include Patrick Corbin

According to insiders, the Washington Nationals would like to attach the terrible contract of Patrick Corbin to any potential Juan Soto deal.

If a team were to take on Corbin’s deal, it would likely lessen the asking price in return for Washington, making this an appealing route for St. Louis. With that in mind, here are the packages for Soto with Corbin in the deal.

Josh Jacobs (@joshjaco2)

Juan Soto and Patrick Corbin for Dylan Carlson, Nolan Gorman, Maysn Winn, Gordon Graceffo, and Alec Burleson.

Generational talent requires a haul, and the Cardinals pony up to that asking price. By taking on Corbin, they lessen the value they have to give up, but still send the Nationals three top 100 prospects (Winn, Graceffo, and Burleson) and two exciting major leaguers in Gorman and Carlson.

While this is a tough pill to shallow for any club, acquiring a generational talent like Soto and holding onto a top 10 prospect in baseball in Jordan Walker would be huge for the club. While some of those prospects may end up being extremely good big leaguers, the likelihood is that not all of them will turn out, and none will be as good as Soto. 

Miranda Remaklus (@missmiranda)

Juan Soto, Patrick Corbin and cash for Nolan Gorman, Alec Burleson, Matthew Liberatore and Masyn Winn

The Cardinals desperately need pitching so if they are offering Corbin, I think he’s worth a shot as he’s a lefty arm with the capability of eating some innings down the stretch. He’s a ground ball pitcher which the Cardinals love and why not with their Gold Glove defense.

Juan Soto is an amazing talent. You gotta get him if it’s possible. While the Nationals will want young, ready to go talent, a package of Gorman, Burleson, Liberatore and Winn would give them some young talent with loads of potential. 

Ben Remis (@BenRemis)

Juan Soto and Patrick Corbin for Masyn Winn, Matthew Liberatore, Tyler O’Neil OR Harrison Bader, Alec Burleson, Gordon Graceffo, and Johan Oviedo

While this exercise may just be wishful thinking, I think this is an interesting proposal. Here’s my process: there are three young guys I desperately want to hold on to in a deal for Soto- Dylan Carlson, Jordan Walker, and Nolan Gorman. By taking on Corbin’s high salary, maybe the Cardinals are able to do so. However, the price for this once-in-a-generation hitter is still incredible.

So that leaves top prospects Winn and Liberatore as the headliners. O’Neill or Bader becomes expendable with Soto in the outfield- let Washington pick whoever they prefer. Graceffo and Burleson are young, controllable talents ranking high in the system that the Cardinals are expected to capitalize on in a trade.

Lastly, Johan Oviedo has potential as a solid if unspectacular starter, again under team control for a long while. To recap: four top-100 prospects plus a gold glove everyday outfielder and a depth pitcher. I’m still not sure if this is enough for the Nationals, but it’s got to be awfully close.