Yankees' Juan Soto shares hilarious reaction to Marcus Stroman signing
New York Yankees outfielder Juan Soto hilariously greeted the team's newest addition, starting pitcher Marcus Stroman, by revisiting a run-in the pair had a year ago.
During the 2023 campaign, Stroman got the better of Soto when the two faced off, striking him out looking before mocking the star's signature "shuffle." Upon hearing that the two were now teammates, Soto shared a priceless comment on a video of their interaction.
"We shuffle together now," Soto wrote, fit with three laughing and handshake emojis.
According to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, Stroman's deal will pay him $37 million with a vesting option included. Stroman spent last season with the Chicago Cubs, finishing 10-9 with a 3.95 ERA over 25 starts while earning his second career All-Star nod and first since 2019.
For now, Stroman plugs in behind Carlos Rodon and Gerrit Cole in the Yankees rotation, but it's still unclear how this might impact the team's pursuit of Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell.
While it was a good day for Stroman, Soto's wasn't bad, either.
Shortly before news of Stroman's deal with the team broke, Soto and the Yankees avoided arbitration, agreeing to a one-year, $31 million contract. Soto's deal surpasses Los Angeles Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani ($30 million, 2023) for the largest by an arbitration-eligible player.
The Yankees also agreed to terms with nine more players, including starting pitcher Nestor Cortes, outfielders Trent Grisham and Alex Verdugo, infielder Gleyber Torres and catcher Jose Trevino.
Soto, traded alongside Grisham from the San Diego Padres in December, is entering his first season in the Bronx. The six-year veteran is somehow only 25 years old and coming off one of his more productive seasons at the plate. While he slashed below his career averages (.275/.410/.519), he recorded a career-high 35 home runs and finished one shy of his best in RBI, with 109.
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