To hold Juan Soto in very high esteem is one thing, but to consecrate him as the best hitter in major league baseball just arriving in New York, in the Yankees organization, is controversial. This is exactly the line that Marcus Stroman has just crossed by making such comments.
We know that Stroman is not a stickler and Yankees fans will not have taken too long to realize that.
Both Stroman and Soto will wear the striped Yankees uniforms in 2024 and being part of this legendary organization comes with an ethic in actions and words. By mentioning that Soto is, in his opinion, the better hitter, Stroman did not take into account the presence of Aaron Judge.
Judge has been the face of this organization since Derek Jeter left and the team's fans love him. By acquiring Juan Soto, the Yankees' managers had the plan to put a more competitive team on the field with more bite. Yes, adding an elite player has consequences, but the assertion of newcomer Stroman risks bringing them to light more quickly than anticipated.
Will the presence of a player like Soto, who draws the spotlight on himself, make an athlete like Judge even better, or on the contrary the presence of the two individuals in the same locker room will lead to a competition based on individual egos? ?
I would like to believe that Judge is mature and professional enough not to fall into this trap and that the chemistry will develop quickly.
It is also possible that Stroman's words become an additional motivator for Judge and that the latter improves his statistics and makes the Yankees even better.
Marcus Stroman isn't entirely wrong in putting Soto at the top of his list, but he should have considered the context and his surroundings before shouting it from the rooftops. In my opinion, a player should be careful before determining the value of a teammate or even an opponent, because in all cases, collateral effects can arise.
One thing is certain, Yankees fans will not be bored in 2024, but it remains to be seen whether the arrival of Soto and Stroman will turn into victories or something that can please the media. There is the question.
Team officials are hoping for offensive production from Juan Soto to match his great talent and performance on the mound for Stroman that goes beyond words.
Don't be surprised to see Gerrit Cole have to bring Stroman back to order next season.
