The Major League Baseball season is still months away, but the usual backroom dealing is already in full swing.
The New York Yankees completed a blockbuster trade with the San Diego Padres on Wednesday, acquiring All-Star slugger Juan Soto in a seven-player deal. A slew of top pitching prospects, including Michael King, Jhony Brito, Randy Vásquez, and Drew Thorpe, as well as catcher Kyle Higashioka, are leaving the Bronx Bombers. In exchange, the Yankees will receive a three-time All-Star and four-time Silver Slugger award winner in Soto, as well as Gold Glove center fielder Trent Grisham.
It’s the second big deal involving Soto in less than two years, following San Diego’s acquisition of him from the Washington Nationals last summer. In 2023, the hitting phenom batted.275 with 35 home runs and 109 RBIs, finishing sixth in the National League MVP race.
“He’s as good of an offensive player as there is,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said prior to the trade. “He is a machine offensively — on base, power, and has accomplished a ton already at a young age.”
It’s crucial offensive help for a team like the Yankees. Despite having sluggers like Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton in the lineup, New York finished second-to-last in team batting average last season and narrowly avoided a losing season for the first time in 31 years with an 82-80 record.
The Yankees are now stockpiling in the hopes of returning to the Fall Classic for the first time since 2009 and adding to their league-leading 27 World Series titles.
“They were aggressive,” Padres General Manager A.J. Preller said after the trade at a late-night press conference. “They had a need, and Juan is an incredible player who fit the bill perfectly.” When you have two teams lined up and a team consistently calling you, you usually get the sense that this is something that has a chance to happen and hopefully it’s a deal that works out for both sides.”
Meanwhile, the Padres are in a cost-cutting mode after missing the playoffs last season despite their World Series aspirations. After losing NL Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell, Michael Wacha, and Seth Lugo to free agency, the team will now look to rebuild.
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