One of the biggest moves made in the MLB this offseason was a trade by the New York Yankees. They filled a massive void in their lineup, acquiring outfielder Juan Soto from the San Diego Padres.
It is already the second time in his career that Soto has been traded, as the Washington Nationals sent him to San Diego ahead of the 2022 MLB Deadline in a blockbuster deal. Several top-ranked prospects were involved in the Padres-Nationals swap, as the Yankees deal focused more on pitching.
New York sent pitchers Drew Thorpe, Jhony Brito, Michael King and Randy Vazques and catcher Kyle Higashioka to San Diego to get the deal done. It was a steep price, but Soto is worth it.
Still only 25 years old, Soto isn’t even near his prime yet. His impending free agency makes acquiring him for such a price a risk, but it is one worth taking for the Yankees. Soto is a generational player and showcased that in his debut with the team.
In his debut with the pinstripes, Soto went 1-for-3 with two walks and an RBI. He brings something to the Yankees lineup they have been missing, as he is as good as anyone at being patient and working the count.
While it is his hitting that many fans are excited about, it was his defense that grabbed the headlines on Thursday. In the ninth inning of a one-run game, Soto threw out Mauricio Dubon as he attempted to score the tying run.
That performance at the plate and in the field led to Soto making some MLB history. According to OptaSTATS on X, Soto became the first player to drive in a run, draw multiple walks and throw out a tying run at the plate in the bottom of the 9th inning in the same game. It had never been done since 1920, the first year RBI became an official stat.
That is quite a way for a player to endear themselves to a new fan base. The Yankees are certainly excited about having Soto on their team and are hoping that he can help them find success in the postseason, something that has been lacking in recent years.
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