New York Yankees move to plan B after losing out on Juan Soto

By Lachlan Wellington December 30, 2024 06:29

Photo by Getty Images

If you are even somewhat invested in the world of MLB, you will of course know that the biggest free agency news is that Juan Soto signed a record $765 million, 15-year contract with the New York Mets.

This confirmed the New York Yankees worst fears as they missed out on retaining one of the best hitters of his generation let alone in the league after trading for the superstar slugger ahead of the 2024 season from the San Diego Padres.

However, despite the major loss of losing out on Soto, the Yankees have rebounded the only way they know how- by going on a spending spree.

The Yankees had the resources to sign Soto but were eventually outbid by their noisy New York neighbours and owner Steve Cohen.

While many will say the Yankees were always going to do this if they missed out on Soto they have to be commended for bouncing back and not letting the loss get them down for long.

General manager Brian Cashman has made several major moves to ensure that the Yankees put their best foot forward to make the World Series again in 2025 even without Soto, all with the aim to make up the aggregate of losing Soto as you can’t replace him like for like. Each move Cashman has made so far has addressed a need the Yankees lacked last season.

The first of said moves was adding lefty-ace Max Fried on an 8-year, $218 million contract. The veteran southpaw has a 3.07 career ERA across 168 MLB games with a 73-36 overall record.

After getting Fried, Cashman then turned his attention to the Bronx bullpen as the Yanks lost Clay Holmes once again to the Mets after he had been a stalemate out of the pen for several years.

A move that is project to significantly improve their pen, the Yankees traded for former Milwaukee Brewers closer and two-time All-Star, Devin Williams, in exchange for left-handed starter Nestor Cortes, infielder Caleb Durbin and cash considerations.

Williams also has two National League Reliever of the year titles from 2021 and 2023 and in 2024 held an ERA of 1.25 in 22 appearances due to an injury plagued start. Additionally, Williams finished with 14 saves and finished 19 games for Milwaukee.

After this Cashman turned with attention to the offence. After weeks of speculation, the Yankees finally signed first-baseman/ outfielder Cody Bellinger from the Chicago Cubs in exchange for right-handed pitcher Cody Poteet.

Up next for the Bronx Bombers was a trade for Cincinnati Reds right-hand reliever, Fernando Cruz and catcher Alex Jackson for former All-Star catcher Jose Trevino.

Cruz is a strikeout pitcher with 228 k’s in 147.1 innings/ 142 career big league games. His career ERA is a little high though at 4.52.

Jackson meanwhile will play as an understudy to Austin Wells as the backup catcher after Jose Trevino was sent the other way in the trade.

Additionally, the Yankees have also resigned Johnathan Loáisiga to a one-year deal with a team option for 2026.

Loáisiga has spent all seven of his major league seasons with the Yankees with a 19-11 record, 3.44 ERA and seven saves.

Unfortunately, the reliever has battled arm injuries pretty much his entire career also being ruled out for most of last season.

While the Yankees have not and were never going to replace Juan Soto like for like, they have done a good job in bolstering their roster in areas they needed to.

Despite the work done, the Yankees still have holes in their team such as at third base. Currently, they would be using one of DJ LeMahieu, Oswaldo Cabrera or Oswald Peraza. Jazz Chisholm Jr. also finished the season at third base for the Bombers, but he will most likely move back to second base where he is more comfortable with Glauber Torres likely leaving.

The Yanks have been linked to several third baseman on the market. This includes former Astros 3B Alex Bregman and Cardinals star Nolan Arenado. However so far nothing has come to fruition and with both garnering hefty price tags, the Yankees are likely to shift focus elsewhere.

Losing Soto was always going to be tough on the league's most decorated team, however, the Yankees have not sat back and got the ball moving again quickly and have certainly improved their roster. There will likely be at least a couple more moves before the start of the 2025 season.