Yankees announce Juan Soto trade with hilarious post
During last year's MLB winter meetings, the New York Yankees signed outfielder Aaron Judge nine-year, $360 million contract but not before MLB Network's Jon Heyman tweeted (then deleted) that "Arson Judge appears headed to the Giants."
Exactly one year later, the Yankees made another massive splash at the annual event, landing star outfielder Juan Soto in a trade with San Diego Padres. Their social-media team hopped on the opportunity to remind everyone of Heyman's typo-ridden premature report.
The move — called for by former Yankees captain Derek Jeter at the 2023 All-Star Game — instantly elevates an offense that was one of the worst in baseball last season.
"He is a machine offensively," manager Aaron Boone told the media when asked about Soto on Dec 5. "On base, power, has accomplished a ton already at a young age."
Despite the haul of pitching prospects New York surrendered to San Diego for the 25-year-old star (headlined by Michael King), general manager Brian Cashman had little choice but to go all-in on 2024.
The Yankees already had arguably MLB's best hitter in Judge and pitcher in 2023 Cy Young winner Gerrit Cole, but they — and other major expected contributors like Giancarlo Stanton, DJ LeMahieu, Anthony Rizzo and Carlos Rodon — are over 30 years old. Outside of Cole, all of those players spent extended periods of the 2023 campaign dealing with injuries.
Despite the star power on paper, additions were clearly necessary after going 82-80 and finishing fourth in the American League East.
Soto played all 162 games in 2023 and has played in 150 games in all but two of his six seasons — with one being his rookie year (when he made his debut at the end of May) and the other the COIVD-shortened 2020 when he played 47 out of 60 contests.
Outside of his ability to stay on the diamond, Soto also fills a vital role as a left-handed batter in the righty-dominated Yankees lineup.
In his limited trips to Yankee Stadium, Soto has already proved his swing is tailor-made to take advantage of the famous short porch in right field.
With Soto on board, the Yankees are turning their attention to Japanese free agent Yoshinobu Yamamoto to shore up their starting pitching rotation.
If New York is able to convince him to choose the Bronx in the meeting scheduled for Monday, Dec. 11, few fans will remember the bitter disappointment of 2023.
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