Don’t worry, we’ll have plenty of time to hyperventilate about the Cubs as they try to get into the playoffs this week, but for just a moment let’s talk about the possibility of the Cubs trading for Juan Soto. Apparently the San Diego Padres are thinking about making drastic decisions after a huge failure in 2023, which may ultimately lead them to trading Soto.

Padres beat reporter Kevin Acee wrote the following in the San Diego Union-Tribune on Monday.

Only change that is certain is that payroll will be pared; almost all of roster’s core will remain, even as some difficult decisions (Juan Soto) could be made.

The decisions to be made involve whether to keep or trade a potential future Hall of Famer in Juan Soto and what to do with potentially be three-fifths of the starting rotation.

h/t: Bleacher Nation.

The Padres are on the verge of being eliminated from playoff contention and it would cap off one of the most disappointing seasons by any team in MLB history. San Diego will end the 2023 season with a payroll of about $253 million. According to Acee, the Padres want to trim that figure by at least $50 million by the start of the 2024 season and trading away Soto could be one avenue the team explores in the offseason.

Soto, who will turn 25-years-old in October, will earn more than $30 million in his final year of arbitration in 2024, before he can test free agency. The left-handed hitting star is having another great campaign, slashing .273/.408/.514, with 33 home runs. He has a 153 wRC+, which ranks 8th best among all MLB hitters. Soto also leads the league in walks.

Since making his MLB debut with the Washington Nationals on May 15, 2018, Soto ranks 6th among all MLB players with a 28.1 fWAR. Soto has been a star, is a star, and should continue being a star as he approaches his mid-20s.

And now A.J. Preller isn’t shying away from the trade rumors surrounding Soto. Via Padres.com.

But considering all the Padres gave up to acquire Soto — and with Soto due for a raise in his final year of arbitration eligibility — rumors have emerged that the team might consider trading Soto. Preller didn’t exactly shut down those rumors, saying only, “We’ve never been a group that says no to anything. I wouldn’t read into that. That’s just kind of the way we operate.”

So, let’s say Soto is on the trade block this upcoming offseason, are the Cubs equipped to make an enticing offer to the Padres? At first, you may think that trading for a superstar player will completely drain your team’s farm system, but you have to remember that although Soto is one of the elite hitters in the game, whatever team is trying to get him is only guaranteed one year.

These deals almost always end up costing less than you think at first. Let’s take a look at two of the bigger trades for star players in the past five years or so.

Mookie Betts traded to Dodgers

In 2020, the Boston Red Sox traded Mookie Betts to Los Angeles Dodgers and similar to San Diego’s current situation, Boston was also trying to unload some payroll. At the end, the Red Sox included left-handed pitcher David Price in the trade and cash in exchange for Alex Verdugo, Jeter Downs and Connor Wong. Price was still owed $96 million over three years. Boston and Los Angeles split that salary, while the Dodgers paid off Betts’ final year of arbitration that was worth $27 million.

At the time, Verdugo was a decent MLB player, posting a 106 wRC+ through his first 488 plate appearances with the Dodgers from 2017-19. Downs was the Dodgers’ third-best prospect, ranked No. 44 in MLB Pipeline’s top-100 and Wong was ranked 28th in the Los Angeles Farm system at the end of the 2019 season.

In June of 2020, four months after the trade, the Dodgers signed Betts to a 12-year, $365 million contract extension.

Francisco Lindor traded to Mets

In 2021, the Cleveland Indians traded Francisco Lindor and right-handed pitcher Carlos Carrasco to the New York Mets for Andrés Giménez, Amed Rosario, Josh Wolf and Isaiah Greene. Giménez had just come off his first MLB season, posting a 1.2 fWAR with a 105 wRC+ in 49 games during the shortened 2020 season. Rosario had 403 games under his belt, with mediocre results, while Wolf and Greene were New York’s No. 9 and No. 10 ranked prospects, respectively, according to MLB Pipeline.

Carrasco had $24 million guaranteed through 2022, while also having a team option worth $14 million for the 2023 season. Lindor’s 2021 arbitration salary was eventually set at $22.3 million. In April, the Mets signed Lindor to a 10-year, $341 million, locking him up before he was able to reach free agency following the season.

Cubs Have Deep Farm System and Money to Spend

According to Fangraphs, the Cubs have the No. 1 most valuable farm system in their latest update. Over on MLB Pipeline, the Cubs have six players ranked in the top-100.

Meanwhile, the Cubs are also a perfect trade partner with the Padres because they do have the ability to take on some additional salary if that’s what San Diego is intent on doing this offseason. Again, according to the latest report, the Padres want to shed at least $50 million from their payroll, so maybe they include a guy like Jake Cronenworth, who has fallen short of expectations in 2023 and has a contract worth $80 million that runs through the 2030 season.

There have been several reports relaying the Cubs’ intent of pursuing Shohei Ohtani. So, if they have the money for him, then you’d think they’d also explore a trade for Soto with the intention of signing him to a long-term contract.

The Cubs have the prospects, they have the money, now it’s a matter of how aggressive Jed Hoyer and the front office will get in the offseason because trading for Juan Soto is very much a realistic possibility.

By the way, I see some fans asking where Soto would play if the Cubs do trade for him. You do realize that the designated hitter exists, right? C’mon!