Yankees trade for Juan Soto signals the return of the 'Evil Empire'

New York Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner is often criticized for not seeming as committed to winning as his father once was, but he proved otherwise on Wednesday and lived up to the Steinbrenner name.

As first reported by the New York Post’s Joel Sherman, the New York Yankees have acquired outfielders Juan Soto and Trent Grisham from the San Diego Padres in a seven-player blockbuster deal. 

As compensation, San Diego received right-handed pitchers Michael King, Drew Thorpe, Randy Vasquez and Jhony Brito, along with catcher Kyle Higashioka. 

For the Padres, it's an opportunity to recoup some of their losses after paying a king's ransom for Soto at the 2022 trade deadline while still remaining competitive for 2024. 

For the Yankees, this is a statement move signaling a return to their "Evil Empire" roots where they'll stop at nothing to acquire star talent and not only contend for but win championships.  

Since capturing their last World Series title in 2009, the Yankees haven't shown the same willingness to pursue high-profile deals as they did in the 1990s and early 2000s, even if the fit seemed right. 

But after missing the playoffs in a season in which the team finished 29th in batting average, 27th in on-base percentage, and 24th in OPS, an impact bat was needed, and GM Brian Cashman delivered. 

While it might seem too risky to pay a premium for a one-year rental, there's little, if any, downside to trading for a player on a Hall of Fame trajectory who has yet to reach his prime. 

Soto, who hit .275 with 35 home runs and 109 RBI in 2023, ranks seventh all-time in adjusted batting wins through a player's age-24 season (24.2). 

And now that the left-handed power hitter will reap the benefits of Yankee Stadium's short porch in right field, it's fair to assume his best production is ahead of him. 

Wednesday's deal will also have a direct impact on two notable Yankees entering pivotal seasons in OF/DH Giancarlo Stanton and LHP Carlos Rodon, albeit benefiting the former while raising the temperature on the latter's already hot seat.

Soto's addition to the lineup will take a considerable amount of weight off Stanton to return to form following a career-worst season at the plate, where he slashed just .191/.275/.420 with 24 homers in 101 games. 

However, losing several promising young arms puts even more pressure on Rodon (6.85 ERA in 2023) to rebound from a disastrous first season of his six-year, $162M deal.

Of course, the Yankees could alleviate the Rodon situation - and add to their already franchise-altering offseason — by spending big on another frontline starter, which may not seem so unrealistic. 

According to SNY's Andy Martino, New York is willing to raise its payroll "to more than $300M" if it means it could also add Japanese right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto. 

Considering how quickly the negotiations progressed, the Yankees might as well have been bidding against themselves for Soto. Signing Yamamoto, which would entail winning arguably the most competitive bidding war of the offseason, would be another stark declaration that the Yankees are returning to their aggressive, winning ways.