MLB trade deadline: Why Nationals fans won’t have to miss Soto too long

Thanks to perhaps some foreshadowing by Major League Baseball’s schedule-makers, Washington Nationals fans won’t have to wait long at all for what is expected to be an emotional reunion with Juan Soto and Josh Bell.

When the San Diego Padres visit the Washington Nationals in mid-August, expect plenty of appreciation for Juan Soto and Josh Bell after the MLB trade deadline deal

Take a look at the upcoming schedule for the San Diego Padres and you will notice that the next road trip for the Padres takes the club to Los Angeles to face the Dodgers in what will be a very interesting meeting between the top two teams in the National League West. The Padres will head to Chavez Ravine with not only Bell and Soto, but also new closer Josh Hader (acquired in a Monday trade with the Milwaukee Brewers) at their disposal as well.

After that three-game set, the Padres return home to face the San Francisco Giants for three games before heading to the East Coast for six games. The start of that series? Three games in Washington against the Nationals from August 12-14.

The reaction for Soto from Nationals fans should be very interesting to watch. Think back to the ovations that Nolan Arenado has received on his first trip back to visit the Colorado Rockies and Freddie Freeman during an emotional series against the Atlanta Braves. Arenado forced his way out of Denver to the St. Louis Cardinals while Freeman rejected an offer from the Braves and eventually wound up with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

In either case, the returning player was cheered by former fans, which is likely the reaction Soto will get as well, despite turning down a massive long-term offer from the Nationals to stay and be the cornerstone of the franchise moving forward. Bell will certainly get some pop from the crowd as well, even though he has played in Washington for less than two seasons.

With a visit from the San Diego Padres coming up in just over a week, Washington Nationals fans won’t have to wait too long to let their feelings be known about losing another face of the franchise at the MLB trade deadline in Juan Soto.