Earlier this week, the New York Yankees acquired slugging outfielder Soto Juan from the San Diego Padres in a major trade.
With Soto and Aaron Judge, the Yankees now have the best 1-2 punch in the American League thanks to this move. It will only be exceeded if Shohei Ohtani signs a contract with the Blue Jays. After missing out on the playoffs in 2023, that part of the Yankees order will give American League pitchers nightmares all season long. This should give the Yankees a chance to return to the postseason in 2024.
It also puts the Yankees in a fun group of niche baseball history.
With Soto, Stanton & Judge, the 2024 Yankees will be the 3rd team to have at least 3 players appear for them who had each won a HR Derby entering that year, joining:
2020 NYM: Alonso, Canó, Céspedes, Frazier
2005 NYY: Giambi, Martinez, Sierra
The Yankees finished in fourth place in the American League East and will look to continue a solid start to the offseason by perhaps adding frontline starter Yoshinobu Yamamoto in free agency.
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