Juan Soto to The Yankees? It May Be More Complicated Than It Seems
Photo Via: Jim McIsaac — Getty ImagesOver the weekend, national baseball journalist, Ken Rosenthal, fired off a tweet which sent the Baseball World into a frenzy.
Juan Soto may be the best hitter in baseball. Add to it that he is only 23 years old and you have possibly the most desirable trade target in modern baseball history. Good players do not turn down $440M, generational talents do that. Understandably, the news left fans clamoring for their favorite teams to make their Soto fantasies become a reality — myself included. I was interviewed by Jake Kosack of The Bronx Zoo and in the fog of war after defeating the Red Sox 14-1, expressed my desire to win the next two championships with Juan Soto in pinstripes.
Immediately, the questions piled in, mostly centered around our current franchise outfielder: “What about Judge?”, “How are we going to pay Soto and Judge?”, and “Isn’t this a slap in the face to Judge?” In short, my response to that is that there is not a salary cap in baseball. However, the questions are not unfair and do allude to some of the complications in the Yankees pulling off a blockbuster Soto trade.
Here are some of the roadblocks the Yankees face in a potential Soto deal:
Every team wants him.
The most coveted trade acquisition of the decade has 2.5 seasons of team control attached to him. That means nearly every franchise is in play. I guarantee that all 29 teams want Soto. Who would not want a World Series champ, Batting Title Champ, on-base legend of a 23-year-old? The lefty-hitting corner outfielder already has 20 bombs this season and should put on a nice show tonight for the Home Run Derby. He plays the game with charisma, confidence, and class. With the new 3-team Wild Card format, every GM is dreaming of that “what if we compete next season?” The combination of hope and desire makes Soto such a one-man target in great demand. The Yankees will be competing with more teams than usual if Brian Cashman decides to begin talks with Washington.
There is no obligation to pay up quite yet.
Soto is not due for “the bag” until after the 2024 season. Sure, the trade makes more sense if Soto goes to a team ready to extend him, but the fact that he can be used as a 28-month “rental” opens the door for franchises without large spending histories to be in play for The Man Who Shuffles.
The Yankees are already very good.
It is possible the Yankees do not want to rock the boat too much this season. Despite some recent vulnerability, the Bronx Bombers breezed through the large majority of the first half. You know the phrase, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” Maybe that applies here, too. Hopefully not, though, because Soto is going somewhere — and it will be a whole lot more difficult for the currently constructed Yankees to assert their dominance if the competition improves to the tune of a Soto acquisition. Chemistry is important, but it is hard to believe any players in the Yankees’ clubhouse will be upset when they see Juan Soto stepping in their batter’s box instead of Joey Gallo.
Aaron Judge is priority #1.
The Face of the Franchise is Aaron Judge. Just like Matt Carpenter claimed on Saturday night, he is the captain of this team. Despite the possibility of Soto-mania coming to The Bronx, No. 99 is the priority. If a Juan Soto acquisition means that extension talks are tied to it, the Yankees will not want to be bothered. Extension talks with Judge have already been dicey (despite the fact that I believe there is no chance Judge leaves) and certainly a second wave of extension rumors will serve as a distraction. For the Yankees to have a shot at Soto, the air needs to be cleared with their big man first. If the Yankees can help their case with Judge by proving the organization will do whatever it takes to win, then maybe a Soto trade can help Judge’s extension negotiations?
Volpe and Dominguez may be untouchable.
The prospect package required to even pick up the phone to call the Nationals regarding Soto will be astronomical. The Nats are entering full rebuild mode and will likely trade Soto to the best offer available, even if that means the offer is from an in-division team like the Mets or Braves. Odds are the Yankees would have to include Anthony Volpe or Jasson Dominguez, if not both. That could be the dealbreaker. We know Brian Cashman LOVES these guys. Volpe won Organizational Player of the Year in 2021 and Dominguez was promoted to High-A Hudson Valley over the weekend. Volpe is a Jersey kid with a five-tool skillset and Dominguez has been the Yankees’ pet project since he was in diapers — almost. If the Nationals are willing to talk more about Austin Wells, Ken Waldichuk, and Oswald Peraza, then Brian Cashman would be hard-pressed not to put something together for Washington.
The trade deadline is one of the most exciting times in the regular season. Last year, the Yankees acquired Anthony Rizzo, Clay Holmes, Joey Gallo, Joely Rodriguez, and Andrew Heaney. What a rollercoaster!