The New York Yankees traded for San Diego Padres slugger Juan Soto to solidify their outfield and bring more juice to their batting order.
If it leads to the young star being named American League MVP, then all the better, right?
Recently, MLB.com posted predictions for MVP, Cy Young and Rookie of the Year in each league.
In the AL, the site selected Soto as their prediction to win the award.
Soto is coming off a 2023 in which he slashed .275/.410/.519/.930 with 35 home runs and 109 RBI. He broke his own career high in home runs by one and came within one RBI of tying his career high. He did all of that while earning his third All-Star Game berth and playing every game in a season for the first time.
That season landed Soto sixth in National League MVP voting. In fact, Soto has never won the MVP award but he has been close, finishing second in 2021. He’s finished in the Top 10 in MVP voting four different times.
Soto joined the Yankees last month in a blockbuster trade that involved seven players. He, along with former Boston outfielder Alex Verdugo, should start alongside Aaron Judge in the outfield.
But an MVP season would be well-timed for Soto for another reason. He is in his final year of team control and arbitration. He’s projected to get $33 million in arbitration. And, with him set to hit free agency after the season, he and his agent — Scott Boras — will likely wait until next offseason to entertain free agency offers to maximize his contract.
That’s one reason why MLB.com is bullish on Soto winning MVP. Another is the exit of Shohei Ohtani from the American League to the National League’s Los Angeles Dodgers. Ohtani is a two-time AL MVP. The second- and third-place finishers for the award will be back in 2024 — Texas Rangers teammates Corey Seager and Marcus Semien.
Soto may also have to fend off his own teammate, Aaron Judge, if he has another exceptional season.
But if Soto has an MVP-level season, well, the Yankees are probably back where they want to be — the postseason — and the young star can break the bank next offseason.
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