Yankees Engaged in Talks with Padres About Slugger Juan Soto
While the Major League Baseball offseason is still in its infancy, it seems destined that the Yankees and Mets are going to be competing for names this winter.
Already Japanese hurler Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s name has been bantered about between both clubs, with the Yanks a perceived favorite to land him.
Now there are reports the Yankees could be going in on San Diego Padres slugger Juan Soto.
According to SNY’s Andy Martino, the two teams discussions are happening to the point names have been exchanged, although nothing appears eminent.
“ The Padres are said to be looking at top prospects/rookies like Jasson Dominguez and Anthony Volpe, young major league pitchers in the Michael King/Clarke Schmidt category, and more. That is standard behavior at the beginning of trade talks for a superstar player. It was also standard behavior for the Yankees to say no, but want to keep talking,” Martino writes.
ANALYSIS:
There was a time just the idea of the Yankees splitting off from players like Dominguez or Volpe would be unheard of. Both were ranked as the top prospect in the Yankees farm system each of the last two seasons.
It is not known whether the Yankees would be willing to go that route, or perhaps look to its other prospects like Oswald Cabrera or Austin Wells. (Just spit-balling).
Still the Yankees are in dire need of some offense, particularly left-handed pop.
Anthony Rizzo, the Yankees only true left-handed slugger played in only 99 games last year, and hit .244. Giancarlo Stanton, now relegated to designated hitter, battled injuries, and while he did launch 24 homers in the Big Leagues, hit only .191.
By comparison, Soto hit .275 with 35 homers and 109 RBI last season.
Adding Soto would send Yankees fans through the stratosphere, and would give New York it’s biggest off-season acquisition in years. Stay tuned on this one.
