At least one MLB Insider thinks the New York Yankees are a better team after pivoting from losing out on free-agent Juan Soto than they were last season.
The Athletic’s Jim Bowden is very high on the Yankees’ moves since Soto bolted from the Bronx to Queens, signing a record-setting contract with the New York Mets.
“I think one could argue they are a better team — at least for the regular season. Max Fried is a top-of-the-rotation starter, Devin Williams is an impact closer, and Cody Bellinger and Paul Goldschmidt combined could provide similar home run power to Soto. The Yankees’ outfield defense will be better with Aaron Judge moving back to right field and Bellinger taking over in center field. So … better rotation, better bullpen and better defense. That said, I’d rather have Soto for the postseason because of how special his bat is and how good he is in big moments,” Bowden wrote in a mailbag column.
Bowden concedes that the Yankees will have to win “in different ways” without Soto, who hit a career-high 41 home runs with the Yankees last season. The Yankees’ front office pivoted to strengthen their run protection after losing Soto by bulking up their rotation (Fried), the bullpen (Williams), and defense (Bellinger and Goldschmidt.)
It’s a fair argument, but it is also fair to say that Soto was a key reason behind the Yankees reaching the World Series for the first time since 2009. The left-handed slugger hit .288/.419/.569 with 41 home runs, 31 doubles, 109 RBI, and 128 runs scored in 713 plate appearances in 2024.