Juan Soto traded to Yankees in MLB’s first offseason blockbuster

The largest domino but has fallen on the MLB Winter Conferences.

Whereas it’s no the highly-anticipated announcement relating to the place Shohei Ohtani might be taking part in baseball subsequent yr, it’s nonetheless a dramatic transfer. The San Diego Padres have traded slugger Juan Soto to the New York Yankees.

All through the day Wednesday, reporting from the MLB Winter Conferences indicated that the deal was nearing completion. Then late within the evening, phrase broke from Joel Sherman of the New York Publish that the deal was completed.

On the YES Community, Jack Curry broke down the gamers concerned, which embody 4 pitchers heading to San Diego: Michael King, Drew Thorpe, Jhony Brito, and Randy Vasquez. Catcher Kyle Higashioka can also be on his technique to San Diego.

Along with Soto, outfielder Trent Grisham can also be headed to the Bronx:

The transfer was largely anticipated, given the place the Padres at the moment discover themselves in. Not solely does San Diego have quite a few holes to fill on their roster — and because the commerce phrases point out, pitching is on the prime of that checklist — however the Padres enter this offseason in a reasonably precarious place.

The staff wanted to take out a short-term mortgage again in September to assist cowl payroll, in keeping with The Athletic, a step which got here within the wake of some huge monetary selections by the group. As famous within the piece from The Athletic, final offseason the Padres signed shortstop Xander Bogaerts to an 11-year, $280 million deal, however that was not the one huge transfer. San Diego signed pitcher Yu Darvish a six-year, $108 million extension, and baseman Manny Machado to an 11-year, $350 million contract.

Again in January, the staff signed Soto to a one-year deal value $23 million. Whereas that allowed the Padres to keep away from arbitration — which may have seen his deal price the staff much more — he was set to turn into a free agent following this season.

Making this transfer permits San Diego to handle different wants on their roster, whereas additionally serving to get their monetary home so as.

However what does this imply for each Soto, and the Yankees?

From New York’s perspective, the deal makes full sense. The Yankees are coming off a down season, that noticed them end 82-80, and in fourth place within the AL East. That was their worst end within the division since 1992, when George H.W. Bush was within the White Home and 7 groups — Toronto, Milwaukee, Baltimore, Cleveland, Detroit, Boston, and the Yankees — comprised the division.

The strain is on in New York to show issues round instantly, and Soto isn’t just an enormous addition, however he fills a obvious want: Left-handed energy. Final season New York’s lineup was closely reliant on right-handed energy. The highest-five house run hitters in New York a season in the past — Aaron Decide, Gleyber Torres, Giancarlo Stanton, Anthony Volpe, and DJ LeMahieu — all hit from the proper facet of the dish. It is just if you get to Anthony Rizzo, who hit 12 house runs final season to rank sixth on the staff, if you encounter a left-handed bat.

Whereas the staff added a lefty bat already this offseason, buying and selling for Alex Verdugo earlier this week, he provides one other 13 house runs to the lineup from final season.

Soto is a special story.

Including Soto now forces opposing managers to need to play issues a bit of in a different way in end-game conditions. As an alternative of counting on right-handed pitchers in these conditions, they may have to make use of just a few extra pitchers, and play matchups a bit extra. Which may not be an enormous distinction in single-game conditions, however over the course of a collection — and in a possible seven-game playoff collection — working the opposing pen as a lot as potential issues.

Plus, it’s not like Soto struggles to hit lefties. Over his profession he has posted a .266/.376/.460 slash line towards left-handed pitchers, together with 43 house runs. That does lag behind his numbers towards right-handed pitchers, however not dramatically.

Including Soto additionally provides the Yankees a hitter that may lastly take advantage of the brief porch in proper area at Yankee Stadium. Whereas Soto can hit for energy to all fields, think about this. Right here is his spray chart from the 2023 season, courtesy of Baseball Savant:

As you may see, 21 of his 35 house runs from final season got here to both right- or right-center area.

Now, because of Baseball Savant’s useful “Illustrator” instrument, let’s drop that spray chart from 2023 into Yankee Stadium:

All of a sudden, lots of these outs, and further base hits, are house runs at Yankee Stadium.

Certain, not all of these might be hit at Yankee Stadium subsequent yr, however there may be potential for Soto to place up big numbers taking part in 81 video games in these pleasant confines. To that time, in simply seven video games at Yankee Stadium over his profession — and solely 28 plate appearances — he has 4 house runs.

For instance, again in Might of this yr Soto homered to proper at Yankee Stadium, sending this no-doubter deep into the bleachers:

Plus, from the participant’s perspective, it is a likelihood to play on maybe baseball’s largest stage, simply as he’s getting into the prime of his profession. And in a ballpark that may very well be tailored for his swing.

After all, there may be the caveat that Soto nonetheless has one yr remaining on his deal, however one would consider New York would make a push to signal him to an extension sooner reasonably than later.

The Yankees are below strain to show issues round instantly, and Soto provides them an opportunity to meet that activity. All whereas taking part in half his video games in a park that may very well be good for his recreation.

Which makes it the right pairing of participant, and staff.