Since Wednesday, there has been talk of the possibility of Juan Soto being traded to the New York Yankees. In fact, we've been talking about it for quite a bit longer, but hey.
And now it's all coming together.
In return for Soto and Trent Grisham, who will act as a fourth outfielder for the Yankees in 2024 (casually, it's another left-handed outfielder who arrives), the Padres get some nice elements.
But at the same time, it's not the most exceptional return there is. Here's what the return should be, based on what circulated today.
- Michael King
- Drew Thorpe
- Johnny Brito
- Randy Vazquez
- Kyle Higashioka
The Padres needed pitchers who didn't cost a fortune. That's precisely what the club gets for one year of Soto and a late-game defensive specialist in Grisham.
So the Yankees get the big stick they were looking for. Soto will be a free agent in a year, but in 2024, that makes for a great offense on paper.
With Higashioka, the Padres also get an excellent defensive catcher. He was Gerrit Cole's personal pitcher, after all.
The Padres, in the $50 million hole, should save about $37 or $38 million. Thorpe and King are also nice additions for the Californian club.
In New York, expect to see Alex Verdugo in left, Aaron Judge in center and Soto in right. If Giancarlo Stanton gets injured, it will open up the DH position more regularly.
And if Jasson Dominguez comes back from his Tommy John, that will help.
Remember that the Padres had to get rid of Soto, acquired at a high price a year and a half ago from the Nationals. He will command a salary of around $500 million in a year – if all goes well for him.
He's a real bomb in the MLB, all that.
- Comments from Dave Roberts: it should not count against the Dodgers in the Shohei Ohtani case. Remember that he spoke about the meeting with the player.
- Brian Cashman's comments on Giancarlo Stanton's state of health surprised the guys in the locker room.
