Potential Juan Soto trade could greatly impact Reds' suitors for Luis Castillo

According to The Athletics' Ken Rosenthal (subscription required), Juan Soto rejected a 15-year/$440M contract. The Washington Nationals may now look to trade their All-Star outfielder.

The Nats are likely to get a haul for one of the best players in the game, but if Soto is indeed on the move before the August 2nd deadline, it will greatly impact which teams may be in on a potential trade for Cincinnati Reds starter Luis Castillo.

Why? Because the teams who are likely to make a trade for Soto are the same ones who've already been rumored to be seeking a trade for Castillo.

Potential Juan Soto trade could greatly impact Reds' suitors for Luis Castillo.

If a team is going to make a trade for Juan Soto, they'll need deep pockets and a deep farm system. That sounds like two of the clubs who've been rumored to be looking to trade for Luis Castillo; the New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers.

According to MLB Pipeline, the Yankees and Dodgers have 11 of the Top 100 prospects in baseball. Both are also big spenders, but each team have MVP-caliber talent who'll be free agents after this season; Aaron Judge (NYY) and Trea Turner (LAD).

Some other teams who've been rumored to have interest in Luis Castillo are the New York Mets, San Diego Padres, and Minnesota Twins. It's hard to see either the Padres or Twins go after a trade for Juan Soto, but the New York Mets will undoubtedly be players.

The Soto situation will not directly affect the Reds, as there's zero chance that Cincinnati will be giving Nats' GM Mike Rizzo a call. But it may delay the trade talks between the Reds and other clubs and it could also take some top prospects out of play.

For instance, if the Dodgers make a trade for Juan Soto, there's a good chance that LA's top prospects Diego Cartaya, Bobby Miller, and Andy Pages could all be involved. If the Yankees were to trade for Soto, Anthony Volpe, Oswald Peraza, and Jasson Dominguez would be part of the conversation.

I still expect the Cincinnati Reds to trade Luis Castillo before the deadline, but the number of suitors may decrease. There could also be a few more contenders to enter trade talks for Castillo in the event that Soto isn't with the Nationals after August 2nd.