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Tim Kabel

About the Off-Season: Juan For the Ages

About the Off-Season: Juan For the Ages

By Tim Kabel

December 7, 2023

***

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.

18 Comments


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fuster
Dec 07, 2023

it was a move that was necessary. they need a bat such as Soto's.


it was a move that Hal's daddy would have made, would have loved, would be crowing about having pulled off.


you want it, you take it, you pay the price


and they paid full price

sent a LOT of pitching to San Diego

they had a lot to send and tossed it onto the table

BOLDLY


let's hope it proves out


as is, they got the best player in the deal

but they've only got him for one go-round

and, if they sent all the arms without knowing that they have Yamamoto (or someone about as desirable) all but signed, that one go-round might not get…


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jjw49
Dec 07, 2023
Replying to

Ohtani wanted nothing to do with Yankees ... he was the proverbial "wet dream" ! Do not assume SOTO is only a Yankee for one year!

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Alan B.
Alan B.
Dec 07, 2023

I don't want Montas!

I don't want Montas!

I don't want Montas!


The Yankees now have only something like only 34 guys on the 40 man. I vote for adding Will Warren to the 40 right now. I think he's better than Beeter, and I don't want to see Beeter recalled first because he's on the 40 man. Warren has conquered AAA, so put him on so he's on equal footing with Beeter.


There seems to be an early debate on what Verdugo, Soto, Grisham, & the eventually healthy Jasson Dominguez. Are having all these guys, did they finally make an end game with Stanton? Is it now stay healthy & produce or be a lump on the bench …


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jjw49
Dec 07, 2023
Replying to

Agree with you on Montas and Torres..... nothing personal, but can you drop the Florial /Cashman missives. I enjoy your post because you seem to have a deep appreciation, and you certainly follow the Yankee minor league prospects, which I find enlightening. 😀

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Paul Semendinger
Paul Semendinger
Dec 07, 2023

A GREAT MOVE!


This is fantastic. It's big time. It's wonderful.


GREAT JOB YANKEES!


(I'll have some thoughts at 10:00 a.m.)

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jjw49
Dec 07, 2023
Replying to

Sure you can claim getting Soto is great move.... Yankees acquired Soto for King and Thorpe. The other two pitchers can be replaced and Higgy was not going to be brought back.... so you acquire the 3rd best hitter in baseball and it isn't a great move? Don't lose your cred Fuster!😀

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