World Series Odds 2022: Padres Join Dodgers, Mets As Top NL Contenders After Juan Soto Trade

The San Diego Padres went all in before the MLB trade deadline, potentially mortgaging their future in exchange for outfielder Juan Soto. The win-now move has changed the perception of the Padres, turning them into one of the top contenders for the 2022 World Series title.

After Tuesday's trade deadline, San Diego is one of just five teams that has better than 10/1 odds to win the 2022 World Series at BetMGM. The Padres’ +900 odds for this year’s championship puts the team comfortably ahead of the Toronto Blue Jays and Atlanta Braves, which lead the next tier of contenders at +1200.

The Los Angeles Dodgers (+350) and New York Mets (+600) are the only National League teams with better World Series odds than the Padres. The New York Yankees (+350) and Houston Astros (+450) are the clear favorites in the American League.

While the Dodgers and Mets are in first place and well on their way to the playoffs, the Padres still have plenty of work to do in order to reach the postseason. San Diego trails Los Angeles by 11.5 games in the NL East with little hope of winning the division. The Padres are second in the NL wild-card standings with a 3.5-game lead ahead of the first team out of the playoff picture.

The Padres had +2500 World Series odds at the All-Star break. Amid rumors that the team might trade for Soto, San Diego’s odds improved to +1800. Hours before acquiring Soto, the Padres had +1300 World Series odds.

Soto isn’t the only addition to the Padres. The Washington Nationals also sent the Padres first baseman Josh Bell, who will replace Eric Hosmer. Hosmer was traded to the Boston Red Sox.

The newest Padres have combined for 35 home runs this season. Soto leads MLB with 91 walks and has improved his OPS to .894 after posting a .313 batting average in July. Bell is hitting .301 for the season and is sixth in the NL with 113 hits.

The Padres hope that Soto and Bell can bolster what has been a mediocre lineup. San Diego ranks ninth in the NL in runs scored. Washington is the only NL team that has hit fewer home runs than San Diego.

Manny Machado has been the team's best position player, hitting .288/.364/.501. Fernando Tatis Jr. could soon return from a wrist injury that has kept him off the field for the entire season.

The Padres have the NL’s fourth-best ERA and took steps to upgrade their bullpen. On Monday, San Diego traded for the best reliever of the last half-decade -- former Milwaukee Brewers closer Josh Hader.

Hader and his 2.47 career ERA bolstered the Padres’ bullpen. A rough July caused Hader’s 2022 ERA to balloon to 4.11. The four-time All-Star still has 60 strikeouts and a league-high 29 saves in 35.0 innings.

San Diego was swept by Los Angeles in the 2020 NLDS, making the playoffs as part of MLB’s temporary 14-team postseason field. It was the Padres’ only playoff appearance of the last 16 years.