Steven Souza, the outfielder best-known for his over-the-shoulder catch that provided the final out of Jordan Zimmermann’s no-hitter on Sept. 28, will be traded to Tampa Bay with the Nationals obtaining a pair of prospects from San Diego in return, according to multiple reports.
The Nationals will acquire shortstop Trea Turner and right-hander Joe Ross as part of a three-team deal that includes the Rays sending outfielder Wil Myers to San Diego. The trade, first reported by Fox Sports, had not been finalized by Wednesday evening.
Turner, considered a top prospect at the position, will likely be part of the trade as a player to be named later because he was drafted in the first round of the first-year player draft in June. The 21-year-old, taken No. 13 overall by the Padres in June, split his season between short-season Eugene and single-A Fort Wayne, hitting a combined .323 with a .406 on-base percentage, .448 slugging percentage, 45 runs, 24 RBI and 23 stolen bases in 69 games.
Ross, a first-round pick of the Padres in 2011, finished last season at Double-A San Antonio, where he pitched 20 innings over four games. He finished the year with a 3.92 ERA and 1.26 WHIP over 1212/3 innings, primarily at High-A Lake Elsinore.
The Nationals will send Souza and left-hander Travis Ott, a 19-year-old drafted in the 25th round in 2013, who finished last season at Single-A Hagerstown, to the Rays. Souza, who played in 21 games for the Nationals last season, would have had a difficult time sticking in Washington. Bryce Harper and Jayson Werth are both under team control through the next three years, and the team has several other promising outfield prospects.
Myers, the headliner in the trade, was the 2013 American League Rookie of the Year, but was limited to just 87 games last year after breaking his right wrist and hit .222 with six home runs.
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