Neftali Soto once blasted 30 dingers for the Double-A Carolina Mudcats as a promising 22 year old corner infielder in the Cincinnati Reds system. Today, however, he found himself en route the Chicago White Sox for that always promising prospect with a plus/plus slider, "cash."
On minor league side, #WhiteSox acquired 1B/3B Neftali Soto from the #Reds for cash. Not on 40-man.
— Dan Hayes (@CSNHayes) March 23, 2015
It's not the first time that the Reds have shown that they were ready to move on from Soto as the club's primary power bat slash corner infielder - he'd been DFA'd off the 40 man roster and re-signed once before - but this certainly ends things for Cincinnati and the now 26 year old. It's also a clear signal that the Reds believe in the other options they have as potential backup 1Bs more, namely Josh Satin, Chris Dominguez, Donald Lutz, and Kyle Waldrop.
Soto was originally a 3rd round draft pick by the Reds out of Puerto Rico in the 2007 draft, and while the power display I mentioned previously was once his calling card, his struggles since his 2011 breakout and miserable numbers in brief cups of coffee at the big league level likely spelled the end of his time as a Red. Though he only had a chance with 44 PAs in his limited time as a big leaguer, his .071/.091/.095 line compares cringingly with the likes of Bartolo Colon (.076/.081/.082) and pales in comparison to the mighty bat swung by Johnny Cueto (.101/.128/.104).
So long, and best of luck, Neftali.