MLB Rumors: 'Growing Sense' Juan Soto, Josh Bell Are Traded to Padres

With hours to go before the 6 p.m. ET trade deadline, the San Diego Padres appear to be the front-runner in the Juan Soto sweepstakes.

Per Barry Svrluga of the Washington Post, there is a "growing sense" around the league that the Padres will land the 23-year-old All-Star and perhaps get Josh Bell in the same package from the Washington Nationals.

Jesse Dougherty

Was a late night for the Nationals’ front office, as expected, and I have also heard the field is narrowing in the Juan Soto sweepstakes. <a href="https://t.co/wLATpIU6oX">https://t.co/wLATpIU6oX</a>

Jon Heyman of the New York Post and MLB Network noted the Padres are "being aggressive" in their pursuit of Soto and Bell.