(05-20-2022, 06:56 AM)OutsiderFan Wrote: The Giants would make anyone but Harrison available to Nationals if they were serious about a trade for Soto. No way in hell do you trade Harrison. If not getting him is a deal breaker for Nationals, then you say no if you are the Giants.
The Red Sox got three prospects - all position players - for Mookie Betts, who is a better all around player than Soto. Soto may be a better hitter, but Betts is a far superior defensive player with a better arm and more speed.
Only Alex Verdugo was sort of a can't miss prospect with MLB experience of the three prospects the Red Sox got, and he is the only one who has made it to the Red Sox three years after the trade.
No. If it means Harrison, so be it. Soto is a unicorn. 23. Harrison has potential. And the best offensive player in baseball.
Betts is/was not the offensive force Soto is.. plus he was 27 at the time of that deal. Soto is 23. That is a big factor. Teams will need to offer more for Soto than Dodgers did for Betts (and I thought at the time that the Sox didn’t get enough)
Soto’s career OPS is .972. In baseball history there are 8 players above1.000 (Soto will in all likelihood get there)
Ruth. 1.164
Williams 1.115
Gehrig 1.080
Bonds. 1.051
Greenberg (probably most underrated player in history. He or Musial) 1.017
Hornsby. 1.010
Trout. 1.005
Sure, if they can do it without Harrison, that’s better. But it’s not (or at least shouldn’t be) a deal breaker. For some comparison, take a look back at when the Marlins traded a 24 year old Miguel Cabrera. Yankees were in the hunt. But supposedly would not part with Jaba Chamberlin. Oops.
Pitching prospects, even the very top ones, are a crapshoot. Injuries play a role. And some, despite the talent, don’t make the leap.
Soto IS what everyone dreams their top prospect to be. For some more context, he was a key cog in Nats 2019 Championship. At age 20. His numbers:.282/.401/.548/949 34 HRs. 110 RBI’s. At 20.
Marco Luciano will be 21 in Sept. He is in High A. Matos is 20. Also in A. Ramos (whose star may be fading a bit) is 22.
Soto is a proven mlb generational talent. Prospects, no matter how well regarded, are just that. When Soto is on the block. - no prospect should be untouchable. (All this assumes you can get a long term agreement in place. Obviously, you don’t trade the farm for Soto as a rental).
No worries. Giants won’t do it. Dodgers probably will.