Keep up with the latest Cardinals coverage from our award-winning team of reporters and columnists.
Jae C. Hong, AP Photo
The National League’s Juan Soto, of the Washington Nationals, is introduced for the Home Run Derby on Monday, July 18, 2022, in Los Angeles.
Players on the National League All-Star team gathered around Albert Pujols before the St. Louis Cardinals great began his bonus round in his o…
LOS ANGELES — The All-Star who could have the greatest impact for his team in the second half comes with a catch: No one knows yet what team that will be.
Juan Soto remains the talk of All-Star week because of the possibility the Washington Nationals will deal the young, MVP-caliber outfielder before the Aug. 2 trade deadline. Cardinals designated hitter Albert Pujols raved about the left-handed hitter with a career .968 OPS to anyone who was nearby, calling him a young star and future Hall of Famer. Yankees slugger Aaron Judge told reporters it would be “fun” to see Soto in New York.
“Obviously, he’s one of the best players in the game,” Cardinals first baseman Paul Goldschmidt said. “If he gets traded he will help any team tremendously.”
This past week The Athletic reported that the Nationals were unable to come to agreement on a monster contract extension with Soto and were now willing to entertain trade offers for their latest franchise player. Soto reportedly turned down a 15-year, $440-million contract that would be the largest guarantee in the sport’s history but would not crack the top 10 for annual average salary.
Soto, with 20 homers already this season and a .901 OPS, took his seat Monday for media availability and standing immediately nearby was his agent, Scott Boras.
Suitors are lining up, just less publicly than reporters.
“I’ve been a National since Day One, why should I want to change?” Soto said to a throng of reporters. “I feel great where I’m at. I’m here to play baseball and play as hard as I can.”
Unlike the rental moves available in the market, Soto will not be eligible for free agency until the end of the 2024 season.
Three years after winning the World Series, the Nationals are in a freefall in the standings and shedding contracts. They traded shortstop Trea Turner and pitcher Max Scherzer a year ago to the Dodgers. The team also is for sale. That has driven a lot of the speculation about Soto — not just because of the cost of his contract to a new owner, but the infusion of talent trading him now or this offseason could bring for a roster reboot.
The Cardinals, with seven players in one industry ranking of the Top 100 prospects, are well-positioned to have a conversation with Washington. But it’s unclear if they have the stomach for the talent and eventual cost of such a move. The Cardinals’ focus as the trade deadline approaches is on starting pitchers.
Before Clayton Kershaw could articulate what it meant to be named the National League’s starting pitcher for the 92nd All-Star Game, at his home ballpark, he first wondered why he was an All-Star at all.
“I probably shouldn’t even be here, honestly,” Kershaw said. “It’s hard because obviously Sandy Alcantara, Tony Gonsolin, you could name a bunch, Max Fried — all these guys have better numbers than I do. They should be starting that game. And I get that. But all that is to say I excited I get to do it here at Dodger Stadium.”
Kershaw’s first start of an All-Star Game will make him the 13th pitcher to do so at his home ballpark. The last was St. Louis-native Scherzer in 2018 at Nationals Park.
The American League will start Tampa Bay starter Shane McClanahan, and manager Dusty Baker admitted that he’s “never seen (the lefty) pitch, but everybody I talk to says he is nasty.” (McClanahan pitched in relief for the Rays against Baker’s Astros in the playoffs.)
McClanahan, 25, leads the AL with a 1.71 ERA in his second season in the majors. Kershaw, 34, flirted with a perfect game this past weekend, has twice taken a perfect game through seven innings this season, and is 7-2 with a 2.13 ERA. He doesn’t lead the NL in any of the usual pitching categories.
He leads the Dodgers in active legacy.
“Toss this around and Clayton’s name kept coming to the forefront,” said NL manager Brian Snitker of Atlanta. “It’s just perfect.”
The first call Team USA general manager Tony Reagins said he made to start putting together a club for next spring’s World Baseball Classic got him an MVP and a magnet.
Mike Trout announced Monday that he will participate in the international team tournament. The three-time MVP will captain Team USA — and, yes, recruit teammates to join him. The next WBC will take place next March.
“I missed the opportunity the first time, and I knew this was a chance I can’t miss,” said Trout, who attended Monday’s All-Star events but will not play in the game to which he was elected because of a back injury. “I’m looking forward to playing for our country.”
Goldschmidt will bat cleanup in the NL’s starting lineup for the 92nd All-Star Game.
• Cardinals closer Ryan Helsley flew Sunday night on a private plane with Goldschmidt and family to LA. “That’s the way to travel,” he said.
• Cardinals pitcher Miles Mikolas, a late addition to the NL roster, was scheduled to fly out Monday morning to Los Angeles and join the team in time for the Home Run Derby. He’ll be available in relief, if needed.
• The AL has the lead in All-Star Game victories, 46-43-2. More than 750 runs have been scored in the previous 91 All-Star games and the AL has a slim lead, 378-372.
Keep up with the latest Cardinals coverage from our award-winning team of reporters and columnists.
Derrick Goold is the lead Cardinals beat writer for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and past president of the Baseball Writers' Association of America.
Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items.
A new wrinkle for the 92nd All-Star Game is a six-person swing-off to decide the winning team instead of drifting into extra innings and exhausting pitchers.
Trading for Soto could hinder future seasons, even with his OPS prowess. But dealing for Miami's Pablo Lopez could be the perfect compromise.
Jae C. Hong, AP Photo
The National League’s Juan Soto, of the Washington Nationals, is introduced for the Home Run Derby on Monday, July 18, 2022, in Los Angeles.
Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device.