The Argument For (And Against) a Juan Soto Trade for the Texas Rangers

Texas Rangers Twitter was sent into a frenzy Sunday afternoon when Jon Heyman of the New York Post and MLB Network decided to drop a nuke, announcing your Texas Rangers as the leading favorites to land Washington Nationals superstar outfielder Juan Soto.

The 23-year-old two-time All-Star reportedly rejected a 15-year, $440 million extension from the Nats’ front office this spring, leading to a jumble of rumors throughout the league that have eyes glued to the trading block: Juan Soto might be getting traded.

Soto has cemented his spot among the league’s great players with, shall we say, a complete jaw-dropper of a resumé. Aside from being one of the most sure-of-himself and enjoyable personalities in the game today, he’s a two-time All-MLB First Teamer, two-time Silver Slugger winner, Home Run Derby Champion, and National League batting champion. He has the second highest on-base percentage in Major League Baseball since 2018, trailing only Mike Trout. He plays on a team on the east coast in a league opposite of Texas, so as I’m sure some readers here are not fully aware of his skillset and production outside of being a household name, I’ll save some of the statistics for the next slide. Needless to say – he’s a stud.

Weighing the pros and cons of a Texas Rangers trade for Juan Soto

Texas wants to be players at the high stakes table. The front office has unilaterally pushed away from a complacency of mediocrity, so regardless of fit – and Juan Soto fits this team like a damn glove – the organization will be pushing hard to acquire him. Make no mistake about it, the Rangers do not have the most enticing package to offer Washington as a primary suitor in these negotiations. However, as there are arguments for and against the trade – both valid in their own right, one thing that cannot be questioned is the Rangers’ push to improve and compete as quickly as possible under the new guidance of sophomore general manager Chris Young.

The Rangers may not be the certifiable frontrunners in the Soto Sweepstakes, but they are, by all accounts, in the mix. Were they to pull it off, it would almost certainly go down as one of the most earth-shattering trades in franchise history – which means there are quite a few factors to discuss.