Cardinals: How rumored trade targets have played since trade deadline

Juan Soto

Easily the biggest name moved at the trade deadline, Juan Soto was acquired by the San Diego Padres for a historic trade package. St. Louis remained in the hunt for Soto until a few days before he was dealt, unwilling to match the Nationals asking price. Based on Soto’s numbers so far with San Diego, the Cardinals may have dodged a bullet.

Soto is slashing .218/.381/.345 with 3 HR and 6 RBI in 32 games since going to San Diego. To put this into context, Tommy Edman has a higher slugging percentage on the season than Soto during this stretch, and even worse, Yadier Molina has a higher batting average.

A few things must be recognized though. First, the Padres have been in a bit of a tailspin since the Soto trade anyways, including an 80-game suspension for superstar Fernando Tatis Jr. right before he returned from injury, which was a huge blow to the clubhouse. Second, Soto is not a rental for the club, and still has two more seasons to play for San Diego. Odds are Soto is back to his normal self, whether that is later this season, or in 2023.

Still, if Soto had been acquired by St. Louis, it would have cost them a monumental package, and any struggles from him would have probably had a negative affect on their clubhouse, and it’s hard to believe they are in the same position they are in now. Maybe Soto is incredible if he comes to St. Louis, but based off his stint with San Diego, this would have been an awful trade.