The New York Yankees are welcoming back AL MVP Aaron Judge to their lineup and with the MLB trade deadline closing in, New York is casting a wide net to find pieces to improve its playoff odds. However, it appears one of the biggest names being floated in MLB trade rumors isn’t currently on the team’s radar.
The Yankees’ lineup has been one of the worst in baseball since Judge suffered an injury against the Los Angeles Dodgers. From June 4 – July 28, the Yankees rank 29th in runs scored (163) and have the lowest batting average (.220) and OBP (.296) in the majors.
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- Juan Soto stats (2023): .262/.417/.501, .918 OPS, 20 home runs, 62 RBI
With Judge returning and New York regaining some ground in the MLB playoff picture, general manager Brian Cashman has shifted his approach to the imminent trade deadline. After originally planning to be sellers, New York is actively seeking to add talent and making calls around the league.
However, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, the Yankees haven’t contacted the San Diego Padres about outfielder Juan Soto. San Diego recently made Soto available, listening to offers from inquiring teams. As of Thursday, New York hasn’t even called San Diego regarding Soto.
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- Juan Soto contract: $23 million salary in 2023, arbitration-eligible in 2024
New York isn’t trying to be overaggressive this summer. It wants to operate with the highest luxury tax in line and on the verge of crossing the $300 million threshold, incurring more penalties, Cashman is being cautious about what players he’s targeting.
However, Soto would be a multi-year addition to the Yankees. While New York would also likely struggle to sign him to an extension before he becomes a free agent in the 2024-’25 class, Soto would add an MVP-caliber bat in the lineup to pair with Judge through the 2024 season.
The Yankees will likely do their due diligence and check in on Soto’s cost and availability by Monday. However, San Diego’s asking price and the organization’s preference to keep him on the roster make a trade unlikely. Instead, New York is expected to add a more affordable outfielder like Cody Bellinger or Randal Grichuk.