The Los Angeles Dodgers were busy during the 2022 MLB trade deadline as they made five deals and explored numerous other possibilities. However, they fell short of acquiring Juan Soto despite some growing optimism for a deal.
The Washington Nationals ultimately sent Soto and Josh Bell to the San Diego Padres for a package of Major League talent and prospects. The deal was headlined by MacKenzie Gore and C.J. Abrams, and it also included Luke Voit, Robert Hassell III, James Wood and Jarlín Susana.
While the Dodgers package wasn’t enough to top the Padres’ offer in the eyes of the Nationals, they made an aggressive offer that included multiple prospects. According to J.P. Hoornstra on his “Bleav In Dodgers” podcast, the Nationals sought Diego Cartaya, Bobby Miller and more prospects:
“According to my sources, it was a package of six or seven prospects. The headliners were Diego Cartaya and Bobby Miller, who are respectively the top position player and the top pitcher in the Dodgers’ system. Beyond that, I’ve heard there were a few different versions of how the trade might have been construed.
“One person, who saw at least one version of this trade, said that the Nationals wanted another two or three of the Dodgers’ top five prospects. So think about guys like Ryan Pepiot, Gavin Stone, Miguel Vargas, Andy Pages, Michael Busch. Maybe two or three out of that group plus another two or three wild card prospects. Guys who are not as highly ranked as the aforementioned group, but guys the Nationals liked for one reason or another.”
The Dodgers instead acquired a different two-time All-Star outfielder in Joey Gallo from the New York Yankees for pitching prospect Clayton Better. Although Gallo has struggled since being traded to the Yankees last season, he was previously considered one of the prized acquisitions of the 2021 trade deadline because of his elite power and defense.
While the Dodgers would have benefited from adding Soto’s bat to an already star-studded lineup, manager Dave Roberts is content with the way president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman handled the deadline.
“We debated everything to better our ballclub in whatever capacity,” Roberts said. “I think ultimately our guys do a fantastic job of weighing the benefit of acquiring a player versus the cost. And so I was kind of pretty persistent saying I don’t think we needed to do anything.”
Cartaya ignored Soto trade rumors
As trade speculation involving Soto was just beginning, Cartaya, Miller and Miguel Vargas were representing the Dodgers in the 2022 Futures Game.
After playing at Dodger Stadium, Cartaya said he was not worried about trade rumors and simply focused on continuing to pursue his dream of reaching the Majors.
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