NASHVILLE - They aren't close to being done.
Following their surprise trade with the hated AL East rival Boston Red Sox, where they landed left-handed hitting outfielder Alex Verdugo, the New York Yankees are still in on superstar outfielders Juan Soto and Cody Bellinger, per Jon Heyman of The New York Post.
General manager Brian Cashman said last month that the goal was to land two lefty hitting outfielders, and they started with Verdugo on Tuesday.
Now, the Yankees can shift their focus back to Soto, and rekindle talks with the San Diego Padres about acquiring the 25-year-old generational talent.
The Padres are reportedly asking for Michael King, top prospect Drew Thorpe, Jhony Brito, Randy Vazquez and two-three more pieces. The Yankees said this was too much, which caused talks to stall.
But San Diego appears to be determined to trade Soto, who is entering his walk-year in 2024, this offseason, and the Yankees seem to be the perfect fit.
Should the Yankees lose out on Soto to another team, Bellinger would be a solid fall-back option after earning NL Comeback Player of the Year in 2023.
The Yankees are trying to get superstar Aaron Judge help in their lineup. Adding Verdugo was a start, but they must find a way to bring in one of Soto or Bellinger.
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