Dec. 6: Soto dealt to Yankees in seven-player swap
After lengthy discussions between the Yankees and Padres, Soto was dealt to New York in a seven-player trade that became official Tuesday night. The 25-year-old star was sent to the Bronx along with outfielder Trent Grisham for five players: catcher Kyle Higashioka and right-handed pitchers Michael King, Drew Thorpe, Jhony Brito and Randy Vásquez. 

At the time of the deal, Thorpe was the Yankees' No. 5 prospect and MLB Pipeline's No. 99 overall prospect. King pitched in 49 games, including nine starts, for the Yanks in 2023, posting a 2.75 ERA; Brito had a 4.28 ERA in 25 games (13 starts). Vásquez was ranked as New York's No. 13 prospect.

Soto is set to become a free agent after the 2024 season, although the Yankees will likely try to reach a contract extension with him before then. Higashioka is also a free agent after 2024, while Grisham and King are each under contract through 2025.

Talks between the Yankees and Padres rekindled quickly after appearing to cool the week before the deal, with New York reportedly balking at San Diego's request for King, Thorpe and multiple other players in the trade. Ultimately, though, the Padres got what they wanted -- and so did the Yankees, who received a 25-year-old three-time All-Star who is MLB's active leader in on-base percentage at .421. Soto, who made his debut with the Nationals at age 19 in 2018, can write a new chapter to a career that is already historic.