Top Insider Questions Aaron Judge’s Position Change, Cites Injury Concerns Amidst Yankees’ Blockbuster Juan Soto Deal

Juan Soto has brought questions with him. The biggest, however, is how he will fit in the New York Yankees squad. The former Padres player will slide right in as a hitter but it’s the defense where things can get dicey. Soto is a right fielder, and so is Aaron Judge. As the reports indicate, the captain will have to accommodate the Dominican Slugger and go to the center. This has worried fans as well as a top insider.

Even though there is no denying that Soto’s arrival was a grave necessity for the Yankees, manager Aaron Boone will still have to think a lot about how he’ll insert him into their team. It is to be noted that Judge’s increasing history of injuries may be troubling for times to come.

Top MLB insider not a fan of Aaron Judge moving to centerfield

The position requires not only high effort but also tremendous endurance, increasing the risk of injuries for players. Judge’s shift there is risky. For him to shift now to the center field could take a heavy toll on his body. And perhaps that’s the reason why The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal questioned the decision.

In a recent article, Rosenthal clarified why he feels that Judge’s role change is a negative consequence of Soto’s trade. He mentioned the past injuries as well as All Rise being on the plus side of 30 as a cautionary sign.

“Judge, who turns 32 on April 26, is entering the second season of his nine-year, $360 million contract. He was out 11 days with a strained right hip last season and seven weeks with a right toe sprain he suffered making a spectacular catch at Dodger Stadium.” He wrote.

Read more: Juan Soto Trade Boosts Yankees’ World Series Odds, Will the Bombers Finally End Their Near 15-Year Drought?

The worries make sense because the captain is at an age where players normally switch from outfield to infield. Instead, he may be shifting to the most demanding position. How will the slugger cope? Most importantly, if he gets injured again, how will the Yankees cope? It’s a conundrum the answer to which is very difficult to find. 

What other options do the Yankees have?

The alternative would be to shift Soto to left field and play Alex Verdugo in center. Though this would solve their problem it will reduce the efficiency of both Soto and Verdugo. It’s a strange situation where all three of their outfielders are best on the right side. In every case one of them will play outside their zone.

So it seems the Bronx Squad may have no other choice but to change some positions until rookie Jasson Dominguez returns. But that would give another dilemma, who will the center fielder replace?

It’s certainly an interesting time to be a Yankee.

Watch The Story: ESPN Insider Drops Bold Juan Soto Predictions: Fans Eagerly Shout ‘Yankee’ With 100% Confidence.