Yankees Acquire Juan Soto from Padres in Blockbuster Trade
The wait is now over, Juan Soto is now a member of the New York Yankees.
After hours of negotiation and waiting, a deal was finally struck late Tuesday night that will send the former World Series champion and three-time All Star to the Bronx, along with outfielder Trent Grisham for a boatload of prospects.
Going back to San Diego in the deal are pitchers Drew Thorpe, Michael King, Randy Vasquez, Johny Brito, and veteran catcher Kyle Higashioka.
In Soto, the Yankees are getting a bonafide slugger that will lengthen their lineup. A career .284 hitter, Soto slugged 35 homers and drove in 109. A power bat from the left side of the plate, he gives the Yankees some the versatility they badly needed.
KEEPING PROSPECTS
What’s more, the Yankees made the deal without having to dip too deeply into their vast pool of prospects. They are keeping Anthony Volpe, Austin Wells, and Jason Dominguez. Dominguez will miss most, if not all of the 2024 season as he recovers from Tommy John Surgery. Volpe is a Gold Glove winner at shortstop already, and Wells is going to compete for the starting catcher spot.
LINEUP
In addition, the Yankees added Alex Verdugo in a rare deal with the Boston Red Sox to give their lineup even more versatility.
FREE AGENT IN 2024
The only caveat is that Soto is a pending free agent after this upcoming season in 2024. Will the Yankees be able to sign him to a long term deal? His agent is Scott Boras who is notorious for assuring his clients hit free agency to make the most money. When asked, Boras said he hasn’t talked about “those things.”
We shall see, but the Yankees certainly have an advantage. One, they have him for a year. Two, they are the Yankees. Three, Soto has hinted at being a guy who wanted New York all along in the past whether it be the Yankees or Mets.
Enjoy Yankees fans, you got your man.
