NFL
By: Billy Lewis
The New York Yankees are trying to work their way back to being the “Evil Empire”. After a disappointing 2023 season that saw the Yankees miss the playoffs for the first time since 2016, they made the first big splash of the offseason.
The Yankees are bringing in superstar outfielder Juan Soto for the 2024 season. The Yankees and San Diego Padres agreed to a trade late Wednesday night. The Yankees are also getting outfielder Trent Grisham along with Soto and the Padres are getting Michael King, Jhony Brito, Randy Vasquez, Kyle Higashioka, and pitching prospect Drew Thorpe.
King is the main piece going to San Diego, he has been a crucial part of the Yankees pitching staff as both a reliever and a starting pitcher. Higashioka has been in the Yankees system since he was drafted in 2008. Fans saw Brito and Vasquez throughout the season as the Yankees’ pitching staff was riddled with injuries during the 2023 season.
Acquiring Soto checks a couple of boxes for the Yankees, he only turned 25 in October so they are getting younger, he is a left-handed bat who should thrive in Yankee Stadium, and he walks more than he strikeouts. Soto has also performed on the big stage, as a second year player in 2019 he helped the Washington Nationals win the World Series against the Houston Astros.
Soto is an upcoming Free-Agent after 2024, so the Yankees may only have him for one season. While there is always pressure to win the World Series in the Bronx, 2024 will up that ante. If they are unable to resign Soto, Brian Cashman and company better hope 2024 ends with a parade down the Canyon of Heros.
Yankees Not Done Yet
While Soto is a huge acquisition and fans will be excited to watch him in the Bronx, the Yankees still need more. The trade took a toll on their pitching depth and after the injury-plagued seasons of Nestor Cortes and Carlos Rodon, they still need help in the rotation.
The two biggest Free-Agent names out this offseason are Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto who is coming over from Nippon Professional Baseball in Japan. Ohtani is probably off of the Yankees’ radar because he will not pitch in 2024 after having elbow surgery in September and he will be seeking a huge contract.
Yamamoto however, will be somebody the Yankees desperately try to bring in. Yamamoto is an ace pitcher who is only 25 years old. Cashman and Omar Minaya were in attendance when Yamamoto threw a no-hitter in the NPB back in September. Yamamoto would fit nicely behind Gerrit Cole in the Yankees rotation.
Soto was a huge swing for Cashman and the Yankees, if they are able to bring in Yamamoto as well, the excitement for Yankee fans will be palpable.
