The New York Yankees clearly need to have a player like Juan Soto on their roster. However, according to the player’s agent Scott Boras, the Padres have not communicated to him any intention of trading the player.
Boras told reporters that the Padres laid out their plan for the next year to him, which includes Juan Soto in their lineup. He said they are looking to add more left-handed bats, not get rid of them. The Yankees, as per a source within the team, have not initiated substantial discussions with the Padres regarding Soto. However, they are expected to actively pursue him if they sense that San Diego is open to trading him.
Padres’ Juan Soto silence rakes up pressure on Yankees
The San Diego Padres didn’t provide any clearer indications about their intentions regarding the potential trade of their star left fielder, Juan Soto. On Wednesday, general manager A.J. Preller evaded most questions concerning the future of the 25-year-old left-handed power hitter, who has just one year left until he becomes a free agent. Given the Padres’ anticipated efforts to reduce payroll for the 2024 season, trading Soto might be the most logical course of action. According to MLB Trade Rumors, Soto is projected to earn $33 million through salary arbitration next season.
Preller informed the reporters that Soto has shown an interest in staying with the Padres for the long term, but the GM did not elaborate on those discussions.
Preller said that obviously, Juan means a lot to them, calling him a true middle-of-the-order three-hole bat and one of the most dynamic offensive forces in the game. He added that they always weigh out the here and now versus the long-term plan and where that sets them. Preller stated that Soto is very important to the Padres and they will keep having conversations to get a sense of what is important to Juan before making decisions as they go through the offseason.
Yankees focus on two outfielders
Another source within the team suggested that the Yankees haven’t made significant progress in terms of trades or free-agent signings early this offseason. Brian Cashman mentioned on Tuesday that the team’s top priority for the winter is to acquire two outfielders, preferably left-handed hitters.
The Yankees have explored various options, including initiating contact with Scott Boras regarding the free-agent center fielder, Cody Bellinger, as revealed by a team source. It’s unclear how highly the Yankees would prioritize Bellinger compared to other available players in the market. While Bellinger’s left-handed swing appears well-suited for the short porch at Yankee Stadium, and he is known for his defensive skills in center field, some of his underlying statistics do not align with the typical criteria the Yankees look for. For instance, in 2023, Bellinger ranked in the 22nd percentile for average exit velocity at 87.9 mph, the 10th percentile in hard-hit rate at 31.4 percent, and the 27th percentile in barrel rate at 6.1 percent.
The Yankees have additionally considered the free-agent center fielder, Kevin Kiermaier, according to a source within the team. In the previous season, the 33-year-old Kiermaier posted a .265 batting average with eight home runs, 36 RBIs, and a .741 OPS while playing 129 games for the Toronto Blue Jays.
Additionally, an insider suggests keeping a close watch on the Yankees’ activity in the market, particularly regarding the pursuit of the best pure infielder.
Insider links Yankees to Matt Chapman
Jon Morosi from MLB Network has made a connection between the third baseman and the Yankees on Wednesday.
Morosi said on MLB Network that Matt Chapman is the best pure infielder available, and he is watching the New York Yankees very carefully with Chapman. He stated that third base has been a revolving door for the Yankees over the past year, with Josh Donaldson in and out and DJ LeMahieu playing some third base but having a down offensive year. Morosi added that Chapman posts and the Yankees need someone at third who posts.
Morosi pointed out that Chapman, who had a .240 batting average with 17 home runs, didn’t perform well offensively after mid-May, with a .203 average and .660 OPS during that period. However, his exceptional defensive skills make him an appealing option for any team in need of a third baseman.
Just last week, Jim Bowden from The Athletic identified the Yankees and Mets as possible destinations for Chapman.
Chapman, aged 30, spent the past two seasons as part of the Toronto Blue Jays, where he posted a batting line of .234/.327/.429, hitting 44 home runs and driving in 130 runs. Prior to his time with the Blue Jays, he played five seasons with the Oakland Athletics. As a three-time Gold Glove recipient, Chapman has accumulated career statistics of .240/.320/.461, with 155 home runs and 426 RBIs over his seven-year career. He was originally selected by the Athletics in the first round of the 2014 draft, and he made his major league debut in 2017.
What do you think? Leave your comment below.
Matt Chapman is hardly more than Josh Donaldson. Both were excellent fielders and neither fit the Yankees’ needs in terms of run production, batting average or power. why cut Donaldson loose and then sign his clone? Bellinger is no more than Aaron Hicks all over. Bellinger fought injuries in recent years and has one good year and now you want the Yankees to throw a boatload if money at him? No
I don’t think either player Chapman or Bellinger is a bad trade. How is Chapman like Donaldson with 44 home runs? Bellinger is an outfielder who bats left handed which is a good fit for a Yankees stadium. Compare him to Hicks is not correct.
The Yankees need to,learn from their pattern of signing expensive free agents that don’t live up to the hype. Instead, play your rookies that have proven they can perform. The future outfielder is Jasson Dominguez and don’t trade that man. He will be an All-Star within 3 years and play Periera, Peraza. Wells and others too. Look at how Volpe did the unthinkable and turned his rookie season around to win a Gold Glove. These players are talented and inexpensive with years of control remaining. Don’t repeat the mistakes like Elsbury, Donaldson, Stanton……the Yankees are desperate to win and signing expensive free agents that are true superstars is not the way to go.
Soto is overrated and overpaid. Ohtani is another Stanton type deal that will haunt the team that signs him. Don’t repeat decades of doing the same thing by signing free agents that don’t pan out.
finally someone with a brain. juan Soto with that crotch grabbing BS after every pitch is a distraction and someone should bury a fastball in his skull to enlighten him that we don’t do Michael Jackson impersonations in MLB. The Yankees are already stuck with 3 huge contracts,they don’t need more. one day Cole and judge contracts will be a bigger ball and chain than Stanton’s contract is now. stick with the kids and forget this nonsense,it never works. Did this jerkoff writer forget Giambi , Texeria ,Sabathia and A-Roids contracts? every one was a bust the last few years , others were a bust sooner than that! these reporters write stories about their wishes or just plain bullshit when there is zero truth to their narrative. Juan Soto and Bellinger ain’t coming here.
finally someone with a brain. juan Soto with that crotch grabbing BS after every pitch is a distraction and someone should bury a fastball in his skull to enlighten him that we don’t do Michael Jackson impersonations in MLB. The Yankees are already stuck with 3 huge contracts,they don’t need more. one day Cole and judge contracts will be a bigger ball and chain than Stanton’s contract is now. stick with the kids and forget this nonsense,it never works. Did this jerkoff writer forget Giambi , Texeria ,Sabathia and A-Roids contracts? every one was a bust the last few years , others were a bust sooner than that! these reporters write stories about their wishes or just plain bullshit when there is zero truth to their narrative. Juan Soto and Bellinger ain’t coming here.