Tue Jun 24 02:20:00 UTC 2025: Here’s a news article summarizing the text:
**Soto Trade Revisited as James Wood Returns to San Diego with Nationals**
SAN DIEGO – As Nationals outfielder James Wood prepares to play at Petco Park for the first time, the 2022 Juan Soto trade is back in the spotlight. Wood, a former Padres second-round pick, was sent to Washington in the blockbuster deal that brought Soto (and Josh Bell) to San Diego.
The trade, which also involved MacKenzie Gore, CJ Abrams, Jarlin Susana and Robert Hassell III, has been the subject of much debate since the Padres failed to make a deep playoff run with Soto. While Soto performed well in San Diego, the team ultimately traded him a year before free agency, acquiring Michael King and Drew Thorpe, the latter of whom was then flipped for Dylan Cease.
Padres infielder Jackson Merrill, Wood’s teammate and close friend since childhood, recalls the day of the trade, stating “I’m mad, This is my best friend” while also acknowledging the excitement for his friends’ opportunities. The two young stars were drafted by the Padres in 2021, and now both are considered potential franchise cornerstones.
Padres General Manager A.J. Preller acknowledged the system’s strength, highlighting the team’s ability to acquire Soto while retaining Merrill. While the Padres remain contenders with King and Cease, the Nationals are building their future around Wood, Gore, and Abrams.
First Piper 