Juan Soto trade rumors have been in headlines of late, and even without there being any indication the Washington Nationals are considering a move at this time, the Los Angeles Dodgers invariably have been speculated as a potential suitor.
Soto started in all three games against the Dodgers but had just one hit and one RBI, though did draw three walks across 12 plate appearances. He additionally struck out twice, one of which came in an entertaining battle with Julio Urías.
He held the Nationals without a hit until Nelson Cruz’s leadoff double in the bottom of the fifth inning and allowed just one run on the day.
Urías escaped further trouble as he struck out Soto looking to end an eight-pitch at-bat in the sixth inning. He then benefitted from Alcides Escobar getting thrown out in a rundown for the final out of the inning.
Urías and Soto exchanged glances and smiles throughout the battle, and the Dodgers’ starter offered high praise for the Nationals’ star, via Bill Plunkett of the Southern California News Group:
“You know the caliber of hitter he is,” Urias said through an interpreter of the matchup with Soto. “We’ve faced each other the last couple years. It’s one of those at-bats that’s kind of fun. … You’re giving your best. He’s giving his best. He’s fouling some pitches off. You’re trying to get him out. Luckily today I got the best of him.”
Soto, now in his fifth season with the Nationals, is batting .236/.379/.435 with eight doubles, eight home runs and 14 RBI in 198 plate appearances across 45 games.
Soto is not due to become a free agent until after the 2024 season.
Turner would love to be teammates with Juan Soto
Amid trade speculation, Trea Turner said he would love to be reunited with Soto on the Dodgers. Turner and Soto last were teammates with the Nationals when they won the World Series in 2019.
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