The New York Yankees have struck a huge blow ahead of the 2024 season: they have secured the services of Juan Soto. They became the Yankees again.
We knew that the Bronx club was going to want to try big things for 2024 after a (very) difficult 2023 season, but going for such a rental player is proof of that.
Because yes, Soto is a guy who will be a free agent in a year. He doesn't want to trade now to hit the jackpot on the market in a year.
And the Bombers know that. GM Brian Cashman said he suspected it might only be a one-year project.
His objective will therefore be to please the player in the hope that the latter signs long-term next winter, when he is free.
But in the short term, the (real) objective is to win a title in 2024.
We will agree on something: the arrival of Juan Soto is an excellent start towards excellence in 2024. But if the club does nothing else, the off-season will still be a disappointment.
For what? Because the club still has many problems to resolve. And I'm going to tell you about it.
In 2023, Yankees fans' disinterest in their club was immense. Despite his 82-80 record, tinged by the club's relievers, the games were not watchable at the end of the season.
Will only Soto help change that? Yes. But will he change that single-handedly? The answer is no, unfortunately for the club's fans.
I'm not comparing the two teams per se, but the Angels had Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani for years and they didn't do anything.
If the Yankees only rely on two hitters (including an Aaron Judge who is said to be healthy), that won't change in New York.
Remember that this same Juan Soto, as good as he is, did not help the Padres make the series. And in 2023, he was excellent, Soto.
The Yankees have an aging DJ LeMahieu – who is going to play third base, which is not ideal. They have Anthony Rizzo, who was injured in 2023. They have Giancarlo Stanton, who is still injured according to the GM.
They have Anthony Volpe, who is not fully developed yet. They have Alex Verdugo, a cancer in the locker room. They have Gleyber Torres, an excellent hitter who is nearing free agency.
It's possible Soto improves these guys, but several of them have looked bad in 2023. Let's wait before magically predict a good season for them.
It's possible the guys could do better. But how can you be sure?
Note also that Aaron Judge will now have to play center field when everyone is healthy. The Yankees will take the risk of placing him in center field in 2024. He's going to get hurt, right?
In fact, to place Juan Soto on the right and Alex Verdugo on the left is a necessary evil. And since Trent Grisham, also obtained from San Diego, will not play every day…
The arrival of Soto, as good as he is at bat in a Yankee Stadium that favors left-handers, cuts off the latitude for manager Aaron Boone on the defensive level.
Let's also remember that DJ LeMahieu will be playing far from his comfort zone. Defensively, the Yankees aren't perfect, let's say.
But the arrival of Soto, a player who was the subject of several discussions this summer between the Yankees and the Padres, also hurt other aspects, including the rotation.
The Yankees rotation struggled in 2023 and was weakened following the trade. For what? Because Michael King is gone.
Was it the right thing to do to get Soto? Obviously… but that doesn’t stop it from hurting the club.
King finished the season as a starter and he did very well. It’s the Padres who will reap the rewards of the Bombardiers’ efforts on this one.
In 2023, only two pitchers have made more than five starts and maintained an earned run average of less than 4.00: Gerrit Cole… and King.
Ah, for what it's worth: Cole also lost, in the transaction, his personal catcher. He and Kyle Higashioka got along well.
In 2023, the Yankees had the 18th best earned run average in the league among starters. It was already a crying need and it is even more so.
The need for left-handed hitters for the outfield (Verdugo, Grisham and Soto) has been filled wonderfully, at least.
What assures us that Carlos Rodon and Nestor Cortes Jr. will return to the top in 2024? Nothing yet.
That's why I say it's going to take more.
It's not for nothing that Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who would like to pitch in New York, is THE new priority for the Yankees at the moment.
The Padres, even though they surrounded Soto well, failed to find the perfect formula to win with him. You will tell me that something is wrong there, but still.
Will the Yankees succeed?
Baseball is the most individual team sport there is. If Soto doesn't come up to bat at the right time in the game, he may not be able to change the shape of a game.
And even if he shows up, no matter how good he is, he has a seven out of ten chance of failing.
A club is not safe from a reliever who escapes it or from a star incapable of making a difference. And sometimes, hitters can't do anything about it.
This is probably why Judge is the first to come to the same conclusion as me: Soto is an (excellent) starting point, but it takes more.
There are positives for the Yankees. They are putting pressure on Toronto to sign Shohei Ohtani. They find themselves a quality weapon against Orioles pitchers. They're going to get a baseball machine.
But that should not be the only thing the club will do.
- A mixed result for Soto (who returns to the East) in San Diego.
- San Diego tried Anthony Volpe and Jasson Dominguez, but Brian Cashman said no.
- George Steinbrenner always considered the Bronx to be the Mecca of baseball, where the best should be. He would be happy to have Juan Soto.
- Michael King thanks the Yankees.
