Nationals' Juan Soto trade, revisited: How James Wood, MacKenzie Gore and others make Nats winners

Juan Soto was once the most brilliant of lights shining in the nation's capital. He broke into the majors at 19 as an immediate superstar for the Washington Nationals, helping lead them to a World Series crown.

Soto's light still shines mighty bright in D.C., but for a very different reason. When it was time for Soto to be traded away, the Nats called up the San Diego Padres, and the return they got for Soto is looking like one of the best returns for a superstar in the history of sports.

Headlined by James Wood, that return is worth revisiting as Wood and the other young stars who came to the Nationals have shown that this next era of Nats baseball is going to be pretty special, too.

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Nationals' Juan Soto trade details

On August 2, 2022, the Nationals traded Juan Soto away.

The full trade:

• Padres receive: Juan Soto, Josh Bell
• Nationals receive: James Wood, MacKenzie Gore, CJ Abrams, Robert Hassell, Jarlin Susana, Luke Voit

It was already viewed as a mega haul at the time.

Now? It looks even better for the Nationals.

Soto spent a season-and-a-half with the Padres, then departed for a season with the Yankees, and now he's on his 15-year deal with the Mets.

Meanwhile, Washington will be reaping these rewards for years to come.

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Who did the Nationals get for Juan Soto?

At least as of June 2025, it looks like James Wood will be the most mega success story of the Soto trade for the Nationals.

The day before this writing, he blasted two home runs, including the first walk-off homer of his career.

The 6-foot-7 Wood looks like he'll be a superstar for a decade or more to come.

Then there's MacKenzie Gore.

Gore was a southpaw star prospect for the Padres who never broke through between injuries and ineffectiveness. Now with the Nationals, though, the lefty who wears No. 1 is one of the best strikeout pitchers in baseball.

CJ Abrams is a big piece, too, a long-term starting shortstop with speed and some pop.

Robert Hassell broke through into the majors this season, and although he has struggled initially, he looks like a potential starter in the outfield.

Jarlin Susana is still down on the farm, but he throws fireballs and should at least make it as a reliever even if he doesn't stick as a starter.

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The back half of the deal, Josh Bell going to San Diego and Luke Voit to Washington, didn't end up mattering much.

This was really Soto for five prospects, and the Nats picked the right guys to receive, for sure.

If the Nationals win another World Series in the next decade or so, they'll be able to point to Soto as the reason they both won with him and then as the reason they go on to win without him.

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