New York Yankees - Beisbol/MLB
What was Juan Soto’s deal? The Yankees have a player coming off an excellent season that helped them make a run to the World Series.
Then, he decides to stab them in the back with his greed and demands that the club tried to meet but couldn’t.
The Yankees were ready to offer Soto a record-breaking deal they thought the slugger could never refuse. Then came the Mets with Steve Cohen, who only provided $5 million more for 1 year less.
This is what we call no loyalty.
The only things that matter now are how the Yankees bounce back after Soto’s departure, take advantage of their opportunity to rebuild their team, and reconstruct what is needed to return to the World Series.
What Can the Yankees Do Now?
Sign 1st Baseman – Christian Walker
1st baseman Anthony Rizzo is getting up there in age (35) and has declined in his playing of 1st base. He also has endured injuries that have kept him out of the lineup and on the bench.
The Yankees have already made it clear that they want to move on from Rizzo so the organization can upgrade the position.
Enter Christian Walker. Yes, the 34-year-old is up there in age, but make no mistake, he’s certainly a plus over Rizzo. Walker isn’t showing any signs of decline and is a power hitter in the first base slot.
Walker has won three gold glove awards with the Arizona Diamondbacks. He averaged 32 HRs and 94 RBIs with a .813 OPS.
Therefore, if the Yankees can reach a deal with Walker, this will help them improve their position at first base for 2025.
Sign 3rd Baseman – Alex Bregman
The Yankees have a plan for what they want to do at 2nd base. They have already said they would not extend Gleyber Torres to a new deal.
But there are still in-house options, like moving Jazz Chisholm Jr. from third base to second base (his original position).
Then, for third base, the Yankees can sign Alex Bregman. With the Astros last season, the powerful slugger had 26 HRs and 75 RBIs.
Nonetheless, signing Bregman and then plugging Chisholm Jr. in at second will create a more athletic rotation defensively and in the hitting lineup.
The Yankees are already set at shortstop. They have a generational athlete in Anthony Volpe, who consistently helped them last season.
Sign Left Fielder – Cody Bellinger
With Soto out of the picture, Aaron Judge can return to his natural position in right field. Cody Bellinger will star in left field.
He can also produce as a left-handed batter on the offensive side. As last year with the Cubs, he hit .266/.325/.426 (111 OPS+), hitting 23 doubles, 18 HRs, and 78 RBIs in 130 games played.
The two-time All-Star is the son of ex-Yankee Clay Bellinger, and wouldn’t it be great to be dealt to the team your father played for?
He is still 29 and could be a real asset with his bat at Yankee Stadium.
We can then put Jasson Dominguez (Yankees 2023 #1 Prospect) in Center field (his original position).
The “Martian,” as he is called, burst onto the scene last year at 20 years old. The left fielder hit four home runs in his first four at-bats.
Then, injury slowed his progression in 2024, but this season, with Soto gone, he has a chance to win the 2025 AL Rookie of the Year award.
Some people compare him to Soto, but he’s a homegrown prospect with more loyalty to the Yankees than Soto ever had with one team.
What Yankees Already Did to Improve Team
Signed Left Hand Pitcher – Max Fried
Looking to improve their starting rotation, the Yankees signed Atlanta Braves ace Max Fried to an eight-year, $218 million deal.
The deal sets a new MLB record for a lefty pitcher. Not extending Soto also saves them over $500 million.
Fried is a flamethrower whose fastball averages 93.9 miles per hour and elevates up to 98 mph. He also possesses a wicked curve ball that 37% of MLB hitters whiff and strike out on.
Last year, with the Atlanta Braves, he pitched an 11-10 record with a 3.25 ERA in 29 starts while giving up 146 hits and 57 walks during 174 innings played while pitching 166 strikeouts.
The 30-year-old also tied for the lead with two total games and one shutout, scoring second in ground ball percentage (59%, first in the NL) and competitors slugging percentage (.315, first in NL).
On paper, Fried should be slotted in as the second starter behind Gerrit Cole and be a dominant postseason player if the Yankees are to return to the 2025 Fall Classic.
Traded for Right Hand Pitcher – Devin Williams
The Yankees also needed to add a closer, as Clay Holmes signed a three-year, $38 million contract with the Mets.
Devin Williams was traded to the Yankees in a deal that sent Nestor Cortes and prospect Caleb Durbin back to Milwaukee.
Last year with the Milwaukee Brewers, Williams recorded a fantastic 1.25 ERA throughout 22 showings in the regular season, posting 14 saves and completing 19 games.
The 30-year-old is a 2020 NL Rookie of the Year recipient and a two-time National League Reliever of the Year (2021,23).
His best pitch is his four-seam fastball. Like most pitchers now, he can throw in the 95-97 mph range.
But more importantly, his fastball has great movement that usually hits the plate. He can occasionally mix in a change-up and cutter to confuse the batter.
With all these scenarios being discussed and the Yankees’ new signings, will it be enough to make another World Series run?
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