The Chicago Cubs will be involved in trade talks for Juan Soto if the San Diego Padres decide to shop the superstar, according to a report.

Soto, 25, hit .275/.410/.519 with 35 home runs in 162 games this past season.

Coming off a disappointing season, the Padres are rumored to be looking to cut payroll by a significant margin heading into 2024. San Diego had the largest Opening Day payroll of any club outside of New York this spring.

The New York Yankees and San Diego Padres have had a "preliminary" conversation about Juan Soto, according to a report.

Soto, 25, is entering his final season before free agency. He is expected to command one of the largest contracts in baseball history.

It's believed that the Padres would trade Soto in "the right deal."

The San Diego Padres would like to sign Juan Soto to a contract extension, but general manager A.J. Preller conceded that a trade could be possible.

"We've never been a group that says no to anything. I wouldn't read into that. That's just kind of the way we operate," Preller said.

Soto, 24, will qualify for free agency after the 2024 season.

Reports have indicated that the Padres will look to cut payroll this winter. They've already made lucrative long-term commitments to Fernando Tatis, Jr., Manny Machado and Xander Bogaerts.