Juan Soto trade rumors continue to swirl as the San Diego Padres continue to struggle and the Phillies are at the top of the list as a possible suitor for the three-time All-Star outfielder.
James Seltzer says he would trade Andrew Painter for Soto.
"Juan Soto will be available," Seltzer said at the top of Wednesday's 94WIP Morning Show, filling in for Joe DeCamara. "The Padres are seven, eight games behind the Phillies. They are out of a wildcard spot. They've already talked about the potential for selling. He has a year and a half left on his deal. Go get him, Dave Dombrowski!
"We're talking about adding one of the best hitters in the sport, who by the way is only 24-years-old and has a year and a half left on his deal. This may not be popular, but I would trade Andrew Painter today straight up for Juan Soto. This team wins the World Series if Juan Soto is on this team."
Dombrowski, the Phillies' president, talked about possibly adding an outfielder at this year's trade deadline on a recent podcast with Jon Heyman.
"So, for us, one of the keys there is Bryce Harper's ability to play first base because if he can go from DH to playing first base—which we think he'll be able to do and we'll have that answer by this trading deadline," Dombrowski said. "We're in a position where that will allow us to move Kyle Schwarber to the DH position on a regular basis, and that would allow us to try to add some type of combination out there in the outfield, probably in left field."
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FanDuel sportsbook proposed a Phillies trade for Soto on Tuesday and Philadelphia was giving up much more than just Painter.
The Phillies, in the proposed trade, gave up four of their top 27 prospects in this proposed trade, but notably two of the top 100 prospects in all of baseball, in Painter and OF Justin Crawford.
Painter, 20, has a UCL injury and continues to be shut down, decreasing his chances of contributing in 2023 as the Phillies maintain they are going to be very careful with their top prospect and the eighth best prospect in baseball.
Soto took a plane back to Philadelphia from the All-Star game in Seattle with the Phillies, as the Padres began a four-game set at Citizens Bank Park to start the second half of the season. Furthermore, according to Jon Heyman, the Phillies are the frontrunner to land Soto in 2025 free-agency period.
Phillies manager Rob Thomson talked about Soto on Wednesday's 94WIP Morning Show, saying Soto being on the Phillies' flight home from the All-Star game was just a "courtesy."
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Seltzer points out, in a down year, Soto has a .908 OPS. Bryce Harper currently leads the Phillies with a .821 OPS in just 61 games.
For the season, Soto is slashing .265/.417/.491 with 17 home runs, 23 doubles, and 54 RBI.
The argument against trading for Soto, which 94WIP hosts like Jon Ritchie and Hugh Douglas have made, is mostly due to his character and the Phillies' culture. On Monday's 94WIP Morning Show, former MLB catcher Ben Davis compared Soto to James Harden.
Soto talk begins at 33:10 mark
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