Juan Soto and Aaron Judge at the Yankees made a deadly combo from the plate. The duo went on to smack over 100 home runs together in 2024 alone. Although the Yanks lost the World Series to the Dodgers, the biggest heartbreak the Yankees fans suffered was when Soto signed a long-term contract with their cross-town rivals, the NY Mets. While this move was a shock for the baseball world, the Yankees captain knew this day would come and that his partnership with Soto was temporary only. “I wasn’t too surprised by it,” Judge said. “I think [the Mets are] where he wanted to be.” As expected, Soto is having the time of his life in Queens. And while Yankees fans berate him for the ‘betrayal,’ it was Captain Judge who put the rivalry aside and supported Soto’s decision.

The 2025 season is going strong and as of now, both New York teams are off to flying starts. Judge, who is off to his best start, has always been fond of Soto. During their Yankees days together, the two always backed each other. Despite being a rival now, Judge had only good things to say about Soto when the Mets signed Soto on a whopping $765 million contract. “I think that’s what was best for him and his family. He got a pretty nice deal over there. I mean, you can’t say no to that. But I’m happy for [him],” Judge said.

Although the community might be divided in colors, occasionally, the heart of sport compels the path of honoring personal truth. And so when Soto moved across town, the biggest support came secretly from Judge himself, countering all the heckling supporters.

The case in point was a simple phone conversation long before the headlines could catch up. Not with an agent, not the front office. But from a good friend. “When I signed [with the Mets], first thing, we got on the phone and talked about it,” Soto revealed in an interview. “He told me I made the right decision for my family and that he was happy for me. That’s what a real friend says.”

Allow that to sink in. The face of the Yankees, Judge, blessed Soto instead of merely lending encouragement—no guilt trips. There was no passive aggression—only respect that remained in the wake of the shift.

And that emotional green signal? It makes all the difference. Soto’s already finding his groove in the Mets’ lineup, and a significant portion of that assurance came from the former skipper, who wouldn’t waver at the split.

Aaron Judge and Soto didn’t work together for long but immediately got along. With their explosive play, which combined confidence with grace, the pair thrilled Yankee Stadium. Now, though, they’ve proved that their relationship was never based only on the pinstripes. In baseball, they were brothers for life rather than merely teammates.

Soto’s departure rattles fans, but Yankees stay unwavering on track

Juan Soto’s trade from the Bronx to the Queens has dominated fan and expert discussion. Some Yankees fans yelled throughout games, but others analyzed the team’s performance without Soto. Yankees announcer Michael Kay labeled negative fan responses “little brother nonsense” and stressed the need to maintain Yankees fans’ dignity.

The Yankees have demonstrated adaptability and fortitude on the field. A 10-4 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates boosted the team’s start. Trent Grisham’s two home runs and four RBIs showed the Yankees’ depth and power. Young players like Ben Rice have excelled offensively, averaging 100 mph exit velocity, a .320 hitting average, and a 1.073 OPS.

The Yankees’ skipper Aaron Judge has also been dedicated to filling Soto’s gap. Players like Max Fried, Paul Goldschmidt, Cody Bellinger, and Devin Williams have improved the team’s defense and offensive strengths. “Nobody can replace Soto,” Aaron Judge remarked in an interview. “He’s one of a kind, but I think with the guys we added, we were able to fill some holes that we probably had last year.”

Meanwhile, Soto’s performance is giving answers to all the booing New York Yankees fans. He had a batting average of.240 for the first half of the season, with one home run and three RBIs. He showed versatility and offensive impact for the Mets against the Miami Marlins. On April 2, Soto scored three times and capitalized on key opportunities to advance and cross home plate to help the Mets win 6-5 in 11 innings.

Juan Soto’s departure was initially considered a major loss for the Yankees, but roster upgrades and emerging talent have cushioned the impact. As the season develops, the key question remains: can the Yankees’ smart acquisitions and young player development compensate for Soto’s absence and lead the team to a championship?