Juan Soto’s Historic Hitting Stabilizes Yankees’ Offense, as Long-Term Rotation Concerns Continue To Arise

Juan Soto came in as a breath of fresh air for the New York Yankees. The despairing Pinstripes saw the smiling face of the Dominican slugger, his swagger while standing on the plate, and immediately fell in love. While usually, a love like this leads to one’s doom, the reverse has happened for the Bronx Bombers. Soto’s arrival has not only loosened up the tension but also turned their hitting staff around.

Within two games Soto has already become a part of an elite group of talent. It isn’t anything surprising, after all, at just 25 Soto has nearly done it all in baseball. But the fact that he’s here for just one year has made it a rather bittersweet achievement. On one side you can’t help but awe at the Childish Bambino’s raw talent; on the other side, you wonder what the Yankees squad’s future is. 

MLB’s Sarah Langs’ X account recently posted an astounding stat. Langs informed the fans that Soto has just become the 7th Yankees player to reach the base safely 3+ times in each of his first two games. That has made Soto a part of an elusive list that includes the likes of Anthony Rizzo, Johnny Damon, Gary Sheffield, Lee Mazzilli, Charlie Silvera, and Joe DiMaggio. 

That shows the impact the huge impact that Soto has had on the Yankees’ hitting lineup. Before his arrival, the Pinstripes’ hitting problems weren’t hidden from anyone. They could barely hit the ball and the strategy of constantly going for homers led to base running being neglected. However, that led to gross instability in their lineup but now Soto’s arrival has solved it to some extent.

But then again, Soto’s set to enter free agency after this season. There’s no guarantee that the Yankees will be able to re-sign him then. As a result, questions are being raised over this rapidly aging lineup of the Pinstripes.

Juan Soto’s temporary stay momentarily covers the Yankees’ long-term issues 

Juan Soto and Gleyber Torres will be entering the free agent market next offseason. That will leave the Pinstripes without two of their most prolific stable hitters. In their absence, the team will heavily rely on its youth who are yet to develop, and stars who are getting old. Giancarlo Stanton is 34 and so is Anthony Rizzo. And then comes DJ LeMahieu who is 35. Suddenly the Bombers’ lineup starts looking a little shaky.

When 3 of your top 6 hitters are in their mid-30s, worries about your future are natural. The fact that all three have seen significant decline physically or form-wise is another alarming sign. As a result, it becomes even more important for the Bombers to go all guns blazing for Juan Soto. After all, having a supremely talented 25-year-old with them will only benefit the team in the long run.

But that is a story for another day. Right now, Soto and the New York Yankees are like two peas in a pod. The vibes are infectious and that’s all the Bombers want right now.

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