Juan Soto’s agent says Star would still be with the Padres if Peter Seidler hadn’t died

Less than a year and a half after giving up a huge number of prospects to acquire Juan Soto from the Washington Nationals, San Diego Fathers he reversed course and traded Soto to the New York Yankees. The Padres sent Soto and Trent Grisham to the Yankees in exchange for Michael King, Drew Thorpe, Jhony Brito, Randy Vásquez and Kyle Higashioka.

Soto’s agent, Scott Boras, said the Padres would never have traded Soto to the Yankees had former Padres owner Peter Seidler not died.

“If Piotr Seidler they were still alive,” Boras said USA TODAY Sports“Nothing like this would have happened. Juan would be with the Padres. He would never be traded to the Yankees.

“Today he would be a father.”

Seidler and Boras were discussing extending Soto’s contract when Seidler’s illness prevented the talks from continuing. Seidler died in November 2023.

“Peter and I were knee-deep in discussions about Juan Soto (contract),” Boras said, via Bob Nightengale. “Much advanced. His illness really stopped the process because we knew the organization would be different. He wanted to push through it even though he was sick.”

The Padres traded Soto less than a month after Seidler’s death.

“Peter didn’t trade Juan Soto,” Boras said. “No way. He repeated: “I traded for the franchise. I won’t give it back.” He couldn’t believe they (the Nationals) traded Juan Soto. He loved Juan.”

The Padres did not make the playoffs in the only full season Soto spent in San Diego, and reports indicate that Soto and the Padres were out of shape. The Padres made the playoffs with Soto in 2022 when he was traded to the team.

Following Soto’s departure, the Padres returned to the playoffs in 2024, advancing to the National League Division Series, where they lost to the Los Angeles Dodgers. Meanwhile, Soto had a career year with the Yankees. Soto hit a career-high 41 home runs and made his fourth straight All-Star Game in 2024, helping the Yankees win their first World Series since 2009.

Soto was the Yankees’ best player so far in their World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers with three hits, three runs, one home run and one RBI in two games.

This trade may have been the best solution for both Soto and the Padres, but Boras believes that if they had stayed, Soto would have led the Padres to the World Series this season.