Forget Murderer’s Row—the Bronx Bombers are brewing a lineup brawl, and Aaron Judge might be the one getting squeezed out. Whispers are swirling around Yankee Stadium like fastballs after Michael Kay dropped a bombshell on Foul Territory TV today: Aaron Boone wants Juan Soto to bat second, followed by Judge. “Why?!” Kay sputters, channeling the disbelief of Yankee faithful everywhere.

Judge can get 30 more at-bats in the two-hole! Kay points out that Scott Boras himself asked the San Diego Padres not to bat Soto second. But Boone, ever the smooth operator, claims he’s already “spoken with Soto; he’s cool with batting second.” Did Boras get overruled, or is this Boone’s masterstroke?

Juan Soto shoves Aaron Judge?

Imagine the fireworks: DJ LeMahieu, a table-setter extraordinaire, on leadoff. Then Juan Soto, the baseball savant, seeing pitches before Aaron Judge, the Bronx’s own Godzilla, swings for the fences. It’s a Galaxy Brain lineup, built for maximum carnage.

But hold your horses, Yankee fans. Kay, a notorious Judge Stan, isn’t convinced—and for good reasons. “I’d rather give Judge the protection since he’s the home run guy,” he argues. He hit 62 homers without it; imagine what he’d hit with Soto behind him!

The fate of the 2024 New York Yankees hinges on a delicate dance. Will Boone’s vision of Soto batting second ignite a Bronx inferno or leave Judge swinging in the shadows? Spring training is the choreographer here, one who’s about to unveil a lineup that’s either a masterpiece or a mosh pit.

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The “Booniacal” idea of Juan Soto batting second behind LeMahieu, followed by the Bomb of Bronx himself—All-Rise Judge—has fans doing a Soto Shuffle of their own, trying to figure out if it’s going to be a waltz to the World Series or a cha-cha into chaos, itching their heads to dissect the proposed lineup before the first pitch is thrown. It looks like we’re in a bit of a pickle here, Bleacher Creatures.

Judge or Soto second? Yankees lineup dance gets complicated

On the surface, the logic is tantalizing. Soto, the speedster, sets the table with legs and contact. Then Judge, the slugger, feasts on juicy pitches served up after Soto’s at-bats. It’s a one-two punch that could leave opposing pitchers whimpering for the exits. So why mess with that monster mash?

Kay, ever the Judge whisperer, throws an unavoidable curveball; Soto’s agent, Boras, wouldn’t be caught dead, letting him bat second after he specifically asked his last team to keep the Bambino at third. Scott Boras, as everyone knows, plays long-term chess while the rest of the league is still learning rookie checkers. If the Yankees do not respect Juan Soto’s “third-only” edict, could it sour their relationship with baseball’s most powerful agent and cost them Soto as a free agent next year?

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Here’s another rub: is sacrificing Judge’s extra 30 at-bats and potential 65 homers worth appeasing Boras and ensuring Soto’s long-term happiness? Can Boone convince both superstars that this unorthodox tango is the key to a championship waltz?

The pressure is on Boone to choreograph a lineup that’s not just a crowd-pleaser but a title contender as well. Will this be a Bronx ballet of offensive dominance or a clumsy stumble toward another October heartbreak? Grab your scorecards and settle in—because this ain’t your grandpappy’s lineup. This is the “Soto Shuffle,” and it’s about to potentially redefine what it means to wear the Pinstripes.