OT: 2023 MLB Thread

[NickyFotiu]

The offense is instantly better with Soto, Verdugo puts the ball in play. Marlins have been after Torres the past two deadlines. Wouldn’t mind Garrett + coming back.

We will see. Im hesitant to get rid of hitting after last season.

 

[Rangerfan4life90]

forgive me then if i don't share the same amount of enthusiasm as you and perhaps many regarding soto. i'm just not feeling it. i certainly do not feel that he is elite by any stretch of the imagination. to be considered elite your name is acuna, betts or ohtani.

i don't know of any back stories if soto requested a trade for somewhere else. if that wasn't the case then i find it hard to believe the padres would trade away a player that many may consider as elite and keep machado and the junior juicer. if anything i would rather have gone for a trade for machado and sign bellinger since the yankees have decided to go on this xmas shopping spree. another year of dj at 3rd base?

Soto is absolutely elite.

 

[LeetchisGod]

Soto is absolutely elite.

Who cares if he doesn't re-sign?

 

[mrmovies779]

Who cares if he doesn't re-sign?

I doubt they make this trade if they don't think they can resign him

 

[NickyFotiu]

I doubt they make this trade if they don't think they can resign him

Another way to look at it is they could have a season to see for themselves if they want to give him a huge contract. Some guys don't perform once they get to NY.

 

[Guyute]

Cashman finally did something right. Let’s go!

 

[JCProdigy]

Well, I stand corrected on Verdugo now with the Soto trade. He hopefully becomes a stopgap until Dominguez is healthy and back.

Juan Soto is Juan Soto. A 25 yo on a HOF track. Honestly, giving up King and Thorpe, even for one year of Soto is a risk worth taking. King is a proven reliever and possible converted starter but not totally proven there yet. Thorpe is the one that hurts a little and is where the risk really is if Soto doesn't sign with the Yankees long-term. Getting him though gives them a leg up if he gets acclimated to the atmosphere.

This is the type of move you have to make when you have Judge and Cole sitting there on your team at this time in their careers. Now, hopefully get a legit starter to bolster the rotation.

A side benefit of having Soto is his possible influence on Dominguez. Both Dominican. Both with a whole lot of expectations heaped on them at a young age. Hopefully he can be El Hermano Mayor to Jasson.

 

[JimmyG89]

First player the Yankees have gotten that I've really wanted as a Met. His at bats are a marvel. We've seen him in big games, but day in and day out should be a blast.

The real question is can the rotation hold up. Cole is Cole, but a lot of questions after. Will need to get 2-3 arms, but the last two days are huge for their offense. Adding three left handed bats that are major leaguers.

Mets need Yamamoto. He's exactly what they are missing and is the right age. Montgomery is my fall back.

 

[LionsHeart]

Next up, Yamamoto. By all accounts he wants to be a Yankee. Make it happen.

 

[Machinehead]

The rotation isn't too bad. I think it's maybe one starter from being very strong.

The Yankees really needed offense and they obviously added that on paper. Now they need reasonable health which has been another issue.

 

[RGY]

Yamamoto time.

Screw it get Hader too.

 

[Machinehead]

Screw it get Hader too.

This.

The team needs a legit closer. Clay Holmes is a solid pitcher but he's just not an automatic inning off of the end of the game.

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

 

[Machinehead]

Are these guys good?

 

[NickyFotiu]

Been reading the book Steinbrenner again. He actually bought his share of the team for only $170k in 1973.

 

[Bob Richards]

Soto is absolutely elite.

It’s honestly crazy to think otherwise.

Guy has put up over a .900 OPS in all but one season (the exception was a .853) and his career wRC+ is 154.

Somehow he’s still only like 11 years old too

 

[will1066]

Judge AND Soto in the same lineup, hitting back to back in the order, is sick. I have nightmares and I'm not even a major league pitcher.

 

[Machinehead]

I also don't mind the Verdugo move. We haven't had a legit MLB left fielder since Brett f***ing Gardner.

 

[mrmovies779]

It’s honestly crazy to think otherwise.

Guy has put up over a .900 OPS in all but one season (the exception was a .853) and his career wRC+ is 154.

Somehow he’s still only like 11 years old too

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

I also don't mind the Verdugo move. We haven't had a legit MLB left fielder since Brett f***ing Gardner.

I don't know if Verdugo solves that.

He can't hit lefties and he sucks defensively. LF in YS is actually probably tougher than CF so you're throwing a minus defender out there for half of your games and thats going to be compounded every time you're facing a LHP. He just kind of feels like wasted money honestly.

Maybe the plan is to platoon him and Grisham (who is a lefty who actually hits lefties better than righties) and deal with it until Dominguez can throw a baseball again. Grisham OTOH is a nice pickup for a 4th OF. Not much of a hitter but he can play defense.

 

[Machinehead]

I don't know if Verdugo solves that.

He can't hit lefties and he sucks defensively. LF in YS is actually probably tougher than CF so you're throwing a minus defender out there for half of your games and thats going to be compounded every time you're facing a LHP. He just kind of feels like wasted money honestly.

Maybe the plan is to platoon him and Grisham (who is a lefty who actually hits lefties better than righties) and deal with it until Dominguez can throw a baseball again. Grisham OTOH is a nice pickup for a 4th OF. Not much of a hitter but he can play defense.

I mean, yeah, Verdugo's defense is not great, but it improved last year, and over 162 games, he averages a 2.2 WAR. He can play the game at a major league level.

I'm pretty sure the combination of guys we ran out there last year combined for a negative WAR.

 

[mrmovies779]

I mean, yeah, Verdugo's defense is not great, but it improved last year, and over 162 games, he averages a 2.2 WAR. He can play the game at a major league level.

I'm pretty sure the combination of guys we ran out there last year combined for a negative WAR.

I mean...we don't have to start Cabrera anymore,so that's a win.You can take out Verdugo in the late game for defense too with Grisham/Cabrera

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

Over the past three seasons, Judge leads the majors in offensive Wins Above Replacement (20.2) and Soto is second (18.7).

Yankees’ Juan Soto-Aaron Judge pairing brings back balance

The philosophy was to pair two mammoth hitters and dare the sport to figure out a way to face them 10 times a game without incurring offensive harm.

nypost.com

Considering that Judge missed 8 weeks last season, that stat is absurd.

 

[I Eat Crow]

Yamamoto time.

Screw it get Hader too.

This would be a successful offseason IMO. I'd circle back on Montgomery too. Having two lefty starters that can give you a good start in October would be massive.

A rotation of Cole, Yamamoto, Nestor, and Montgomery in the postseason would be absolutely scary if they're all healthy.

Show Soto you mean business. Be aggressive this winter and there's a good chance he signs back in the offseason.

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

If the Brewers are serious about moving Burns, I'd be on that one.

I don't know that you can really trust Nestor. I have way more hope for Rodon bouncing backl than I do him.

If they got Hader they'd basically have all 3 legs of this moment (the caption is wrong as the Nats don't play at DS)



Do it.