About the Off-Season: Juan For the Ages
By Tim Kabel
December 7, 2023
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The Yankees have started to make moves to improve the team headed into 2024. On Tuesday night, they traded with the Red Sox for outfielder Alex Verdugo. Yesterday, they took a huge step toward returning the team to glory by trading for Juan Soto. These were the types of moves the Yankees had to make this off-season.
Hal Steinbrenner and Brian Cashman had been promising big moves since the season ended. Well, they backed up the talk with action this week. I'm not totally in love with the Verdugo trade but, they did not give up a ton for him. At the very least, he provides depth. Soto, on the other hand, is a major acquisition. Although people question his defensive abilities, he is a tremendous left-handed hitter. He is also 25 years old. Ideally, the Yankees will be able to keep him for a long time and he will flourish in the Bronx. Regardless, he will be a Yankee next season. Combining him with Aaron Judge will give me Yankees the type of explosive offense they envisioned when they acquired Giancarlo Stanton.
The best part about this move is that although it cost the Yankees highly regarded prospect Drew Thorpe and Michael King, Soto is a superstar. In addition, the Yankees do not appear to be done. On Monday, Yoshinobu Yamamoto will be meeting with the Yankees. If they sign him in addition to trading for Soto and Verdugo, they will have improved the team markedly. There are still other moves they can make. It is possible they could bring Frankie Montas back for rotation depth on a one- or two-year contract for not a lot of money.
As part of the Soto trade, the Yankees acquired outfielder Trent Grisham, who can play centerfield. His offense has slipped over the past few years, and he is not a great hitter. But he is a gold glove caliber outfielder. At the very least, he could be a defensive replacement and serve as a fourth outfielder.
There are a lot of moves yet to be made and roles need to be defined. It is possible the team could make more trades. Grisham and even Verdugo may not be here for long The fact that the Yankees are making moves and are demonstrating their willingness to not only spend money, but also to acquire true talent is very encouraging.
If the Yankees follow up the trade for Soto by signing Yamamoto and potentially making another move or two to strengthen the team, they will show that they are serious about contending in 2024 and beyond.
Many of us have been critical about how the Yankees have been functioning recently. Those criticisms were valid and accurate. Many of us were also willing to give them a chance to demonstrate their willingness to change and improve. So far, they appear to be doing so. Although they are far from finished, Hopefully, this is just the start. The acquisition of Juan Soto Is one of the things they needed to do. Verdugo, if he gains some maturity, could be a solid contributor, if he remains on the team. He hits for average, gets on base, and doesn't miss games. He should hit for more power in Yankee Stadium as well.
I would also not be surprised to see the Yankees push to rid themselves of Giancarlo Stanton. DJ LeMahieu could also be traded. Trading Stanton would open up the designated hitter spot to rotate the outfielders. Soto could spend a great deal of time there due to his defensive liabilities as well.
The best part about all this is that we are now writing and talking about actual moves the Yankees have made. We are not talking about moves they didn't make or moves they thought they should make but were not able to or moves they decided against. They are doing things to improve the team. You can't fault that. Let's see what else they do.
