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Juan Soto is expected to add power and patience to the Yankees’ lineup in 2024, a much-needed upgrade for a roster that has struggled to score runs this year. In that line, no one benefits more than Aaron Judge.
With Dominican Soto on the board, Judge should have a great defender on the offensive line. Manager Aaron Boone didn’t elaborate on his plans — he avoided talking about them during the winter meetings — but you’d think Judge would be batting second and Soto third in the Yankees’ Opening Day lineup.
“Wow, it’s going to be amazing,” Soto said. “It’s going to be a lot of fun. I’m going to be more than excited to share the field with him. He seems like a great guy. He was one of the guys that contacted me when I got traded. It’s going to be fun to watch him hit and play in the outfield. “I’ll try to ask him questions when I’m out there. I will try to enjoy the moment.”
Right-hander Gerrit Cole, Venezuelan infielder Kleyber Torres and first baseman Anthony Rizzo have also welcomed Soto, 25, who was acquired from the Padres in a seven-player trade this month.
“I’m excited. We gave up some pieces to get him, but he’s a generational talent,” Judge said of Soto in an interview with FOX 5 New York. “Their history and stats speak for themselves. “I think everyone in the Yankee Universe is very excited to have him on board.”
Soto, a left-handed slugger, provides important balance to a Bronx Bombers team that ranks 29th in the Major Leagues in plate appearances by left-handed batters.
That should not be the case in 2024. Soto, Rizzo, outfielder Alex Verdugo, catcher Austin Wells and outfielder Trent Grisham are expected to get their share of at-bats this season. And with so many left-handed hitters, the Yankees have to make the most of the dimensions of Yankee Stadium, which has a distance of just 314 feet from home plate to the right field wall.
“It’s a big stadium; “It’s a great batter’s box,” Soto said. “I’m not going to lie; It feels so good to be standing there. I feel comfortable in the strike zone, seeing good pitches and getting a chance to do some damage. I just try to do my job, focus and put the ball in play.
“It will happen; I don’t even try to hit home runs. I try to hit low lines in the middle of the field.
While the Yankees try to forget a campaign in 2023 with just 82 wins and no playoffs, Soto hopes to return to the postseason because his Padres haven’t played well this year.
After winning the World Series with the Nationals in 2019 and making the National League Championship Series with San Diego in 2022, Soto believes he can help the Yankees go far.
“It’s the same mentality, it’s been like it since I came into 2018: win,” Soto said. “It’s the only thing that matters to me. I come to the field every day wanting to win. That’s what I want to do. Winning the World Series in 2019 and I got a little taste of it all. It was a great feeling and I would like to try to do it again.
Speaking from Miami, Soto covered several topics during the Zoom call, including questions about his contract. The Dominican, who turned down a 15-year, $440 million extension from Washington, will be eligible to become a free agent after next season.
Soto said the Yankees “know where to call and who to talk to” about a possible extension in New York. Slugger’s agent, Scott Boras, was also on the call.
Soto doesn’t expect that issue to be a distraction for any negotiations.
“I’ve been doing it for six years, so I don’t think it’s that hard,” Soto said. “I have one of the best agents in the league, so I leave it all to him and let him do his magic. For me, like I said, my mindset is to play baseball and try to win championships.
