Why Are the New York Yankees Favorites in the Juan Soto Trade Sweepstakes?

Why would Juan Soto come to the New York Yankees? This is a question that plagues everyone’s mind. Would it be because of his liking for the franchise or because they’ve been the most successful team in MLB till now barring a few recent years? Could it be because of the massive exposure that being a Yankee provides? There are so many reasons for the 2019 World Series winner to come to the Yankees. The Dominican slugger has been linked with the Bronx Bombers since the end of the regular season. So, why exactly would Soto come to Bronx and why does he seem to be such a natural fit for the Bronx Bombers?

The Juan Soto saga is quite a tense one. While he’ll be a free agent next year, teams like the Pinstripes are looking to bring him in this year. Even if it means paying a massive salary for a single year of service, they know he’d strengthen their team almost immediately. Surely there has to be a reason for such a deep interest in the Yankees.

Why Juan Soto feels like a natural fit for the Yankees

In essence, Juan Soto embodies the kind of well-rounded talent and character that historically defines a successful Yankee. On the same lines, the following three reasons can justify why Juan Soto seems like a natural fit for the pinstripes:

1. Their desperate need for a left-handed outfielder

The New York Yankees are woefully short of quality left-handers. At the same time, due to injuries to various players, they do not have the necessary depth in their outfield department. Soto could turn out to be the one player who can fill both those gaps. He is, after all, one of the highest rated left-handed hitters in the league today.

2. He can solve the Strikeout problem of the Yankees 

The Bronx Bombers were a bottom-tier team when it came to hits and strikeouts in 2033. Soto, on the other hand, had a top-50 strikeout percentage (18.2%). The only Yankee player higher than Soto was their shortstop Gleyber Torres, who might be leaving soon as well. One of the biggest reasons for a strikeout is a lack of plate discipline. This is where Soto excels. He has consistently been one of the biggest walkers of the sport. The “Soto Shuffle” would surely help the Yankees in this instance.

3. The inherent suitability of the Yankee Stadium for lefties

The short porch of the Yankee Stadium is why it makes it one of the favorite places for left-handed batters. The right-field of the stadium is a mere 314 feet from home plate. This makes it a hitting heaven for left-handers. They are known to pull the bat towards the right field in order to exploit that end. Wouldn’t it be amazing for Soto to also take advantage of such a short side? The Childish Bambino himself has mentioned that enjoys it. His words were “You’ve got 314 in the corner, who doesn’t like that?” as he hit 4 homers in 5 games against the Yankees.

With such potent reasons, no wonder the Bronx Bombers are a favorite in the race for Soto. But this doesn’t mean that they won’t have challenges. Some tough decisions will have to be made to get the Dominican superstar. Are the Yankees willing to make them?

Obstacles in the Yankees’ Quest to Acquire Juan Soto

The biggest challenge, no doubt, is the fact that this could very well be just a year-long stay for Soto. Next year he’ll be a free agent and would surely look to sign a massive contract. Per MLB Trade Rumors, Soto is projected to make $33 million through arbitration in 2024, so are the Pinstripes willing to shell this much money for a player who may not be there next year? Especially when most of their needs can also be fulfilled by Cody Bellinger, who is already a free agent right now?

Read more: “A Lot of Words”: Yankees Fans Express Confusion and Disappointment as Brian Cashman Addresses Top Free Agency Plans Bizarrely

Another problem is who would they even trade for Soto. The San Diego Padres are clearly in a win-now mode. They wouldn’t accept up-and-coming players. They might want someone with huge potential or an already proven pedigree in the league. Could the Yankees be creating a distinct gap in order to fill their existing one?

Ahead of all these challenges, though, is a fantastic possibility of seeing Soto wearing the pinstripes. How different would he make the Yankees? That cannot be answered right now. But what can be said is that they’d be quite a lot more fun when the “Soto Shuffle” happens in their stadium.

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