The New York Yankees pulled off a massive trade this week, acquiring slugging outfielder Juan Soto from the San Diego Padres.
This move, for the time being, gives the Yankees the best 1-2 punch in the American League with Soto and Aaron Judge. It will only be topped if the Blue Jays end up securing a deal with Shohei Ohtani.
That portion of the Yankees order will be giving American League pitchers nightmares all season long and should give the Yankees an opportunity to get back to the playoffs in 2024 after missing out on the festivities in 2023.
It also puts the Yankees in a fun group of niche baseball history. Judge won the Home Run Derby in 2017 while Soto won in 2022. Stanton won in 2016 while playing with the Miami Marlins.
Production from Judge and Soto is certainly expected from the higher-ups in the Yankees organization, but Stanton is the wild card. The former National League MVP struggled mightily in 2023, battling injury and hitting just .191 with 24 homers.
The Yankees finished in fourth place in the American League East and will look to continue a solid start to the offseason by perhaps adding frontline starter Yoshinobu Yamamoto in free agency.
Source: SI
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