Padres' A.J. Preller doesn't regret blockbuster Juan Soto trade

Back in 2022, the San Diego Padres pulled off a blockbuster deal when they acquired Juan Soto. General manager A.J. Preller orchestrated the move, and he landed the superstar outfielder in one of the largest trades in recent MLB history. But to land such a star, the Padres gave up a lot.

Now, almost three years later, the Padres no longer have Soto on the roster, and the prospects they traded away are making positive impacts in the Major Leagues. But, despite the prospects performing and Soto no longer being a Padre, Preller doesn't regret the trade at all.

In an article from Dennis Lin in The Athletic, Preller, following their series against the Washington Nationals, reflected on the Soto blockbuster deal and his feelings three years later. "Honestly," Preller said. "I think in the baseball ops group, we look back with a lot of pride and not regret."

Why should Preller even consider regretting such a deal in the first place? The prospects they sent to Washington to land Soto have all panned out. The headliner, James Wood, is looking to be a superstar in left field, the position the Padres desperately need in 2025.

MacKenzie Gore leads the National League in strikeouts and has been one of the best pitchers in baseball. The Padres, meanwhile, will scour the starting pitching market at the trade deadline in search of depth and long-term options with Dylan Cease and Michael King free agents after the season.

Just Wood and Gore would be a solid haul for the Nationals in the Soto deal, but there was a lot more involved, too. C.J. Abrams has played at a high level in the Major Leagues, while Robert Hassell III and Jarlin Susana have been solid in the Minor Leagues.

Soto was great in San Diego and helped the Padres make the NL Championship Series. But, he lasted just one and a half years in the city, leaving ahead of the 2024 season, and not signing a long-term deal after the Padres gave up a haul of prospects to get him.

Preller and the Padres offloaded a lot of talent to land Soto, but even with the prospects they traded playing at a high level in the Majors, Preller doesn't regret the deal. Despite the signs and justification that he should regret it, Preller doesn't and instead looks back on it with pride.