Momentum between the Yankees and San Diego Padres about a blockbuster Juan Soto trade has stalled, at least for now, after the sides found themselves far apart on Thursday and Friday.
According to league sources briefed on talks, San Diego was asking for pitcher Michael King, pitching prospect Drew Thorpe, and as many as four or five other prospects like Randy Vasquez and Jhony Brito. San Diego was also interested in salary relief not just for Soto but for center fielder Trent Grisham, sources say.
Jasson Dominguez and Anthony Volpe are not involved in these talks, nor are Gleyber Torres, Austin Wells or Everson Pereira, per sources.
The Padres are said to believe the Yankees are acting like the only plausible suitors for Soto. The Yankees are said to be balking at moving the highly valuable King plus many others for a one-year rental and significant cash (there is no expectation that Soto will sign an extension prior to hitting free agency).
“If they think they can get a deal from another club like the one they're asking for from the Yankees, they should do it right now,” one baseball official said of the Padres.
This is not to say that talks between the sides can’t pick up again. The Padres, needing to cut payroll, are motivated to trade Soto, and the Yankees are motivated to acquire him.
Sources believe that talks centered around Clarke Schmidt, Vasquez, Brito and possibly Thorpe could get the teams closer to a deal.
But as of Friday evening, no deal was close, and the teams were -- temporarily at least -- considering moving on to other business.
The Yankees, for example, remain engaged with representatives for free agent outfielder/1B Cody Bellinger.
The Padres could wait until Shohei Ohtani chooses a team and then shop Soto to one of the clubs that missed out.