Dodgers trade rumors: Who could be included in a Juan Soto trade

The Los Angeles Dodgers continue to be linked to the Washington Nationals and Juan Soto as a potential trade partner for the superstar outfielder. However, in order to have Soto calling Dodger Stadium home, the Dodgers would reportedly have to give up quite a bit of talent to land him.

Dodgers trade rumors: These are the players who could be sent to the Washington Nationals in a deal for Juan Soto

According to former MLB general manager Jim Bowden in this article for The Athletic (subscription required), the Los Angeles Dodgers are listed as one of 10 teams who could have the financial flexibility as well as talent at the MLB and MiLB levels to make a deal enticing enough for the Washington Nationals to part with Soto.

It’s the “talent” that has many Dodgers fans wondering about exactly how much and who L.A. would have to part with in order to bring Soto to Chavez Ravine. Well, in his article, Bowden laid out the players who could be considered as a starting point for any negotiations.

To start, Bowden listed Gavin Lux as someone who could play immediately for the Nationals. He then dove into the farm system, throwing out the names of right-handed pitcher Bobby Miller (the second-ranked prospect for the Dodgers according to MLB.com who is currently in Double-A) or right-hander Ryan Pepiot (sixth-ranked prospect who is currently at the Triple-A level).

Additionally, Bowden says that two of the following would also likely be required in a swap: Infielder Miguel Vargas (fifth-ranked prospect at Triple-A), outfielder Andy Pages (fourth-ranked prospect at Double-A), shortstop Wilman Diaz (10th-ranked prospect in rookie league), or infielder Michael Busch (third-ranked prospect at Triple-A).

Whichever combination of names you’re looking at, that would be, at minimum in this scenario, Lux plus three of the top 10 prospects in the Dodgers farm system.

While the exact demands from Washington and trade package offered by L.A. are still unknown and likely very much in their infancy, Bowden’s list gives Dodgers fans an idea of the enormous personnel cost it would take to land Soto.

Compare those numbers to last season’s Dodgers-Nationals blockbuster trade that sent Trea Turner and Max Scherzer to L.A. and four prospects (including three in the top 20 of the L.A. farm system) to Washington in return. It was a big cost, but paid dividends for the Dodgers … and still could with Turner still manning the infield at Chavez Ravine and close friends with Soto, who was in L.A. wearing a Turner jersey during last season’s NL Wild Card Game.

Of course, there is the matter of how much Soto would make with the Dodgers after the proposed trade as well, knowing he turned down a 15-year, $440 million deal from the Nationals. Would a shorter deal with higher average annual value (AAV) knowing the potential of postseason play with the Dodgers be enticing as well, even though Soto isn’t due to be a free agent until the 2025 season?

So, L.A. fans, knowing the potential personnel cost and what it might mean for the payroll moving forward, would you make a deal with the Nationals for Soto? Is one player worth that much? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.