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Post by Max on Nov 1, 2024 17:51:18 GMT -5
I think the Yanks would go after someone like Walker instead, since it would be a P.R. nightmare to bring in Alonso if Soto signs with the Mets. Plus, imagine how hard the fans would be on Pete if he got off to a bad start in April. Forget the PR, I'd go after Walker instead just on the field. Walker is a strong defensive 1B instead of a terrible one. He's hit slightly better than Alonso the last two years too overall. He's older so more risk of decline, but accordingly he probably gets a 2-3 year deal vs. the $200M people talk about for Alonso. Already having Judge and Stanton with huge power from the right side and being weak on defense overall, I think Walkers hitting profile and stronger defense fits the roster better. The Yankees may have Stanton and Judge, but as a team they didn't hit lefties well. Walker (33 years old) only played in 130 games last season, and he's 4 years older than Alonso (29 years old). |
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Post by chiyankee on Nov 1, 2024 17:52:29 GMT -5
My friend, my hope is that all this talk is moot, and Soto re-signs with the Yankees.
That will work!  |
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Post by 1955nyyfan on Nov 1, 2024 18:09:18 GMT -5
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Post by ypaterson on Nov 1, 2024 18:16:09 GMT -5
Cashman does his best work when he sorts through the bargain bins.
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Post by chiyankee on Nov 1, 2024 18:18:43 GMT -5
Luke Weaver is a rarity: An underpaid Yankee. |
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Post by ypaterson on Nov 1, 2024 18:45:43 GMT -5
Santander has played 13 career games at 1B. Maybe he could learn the position, but I think it'd be a stretch for us to acquire him and assume he can transition there. He's primarily been a RF, and a weak one at that. He has experience in LF, but keep in mind how big LF is at the Stadium and how they have historically preferred a "second center fielder" in that spot. I think the only way he makes sense is for RF is Soto leaves. My initial thought is to disagree with you about Judge moving back to RF if Soto leaves. I like the idea because it would improve the defense, but our offense is taking a MASSIVE step back if Soto walks. If you ty to replace his ABs with a center fielder, you're likely exaggerating that stepdown ever more just by virtue of the typical hitter at that spot. Keeping Judge in CF allows you to shop for a COF instead which is going to salvage more offense at that spot. Yankeesfaninboston, not sure how old you are but I'm an old guy. When I was younger it seemed it was pretty much standard operating procedure that once a slugger got up there in years he was transistioned to first base. That was before the DH. The Yanks did play Rice at 1b with minimal experience. Not saying it's a good idea but I do wonder if the Yanks view 1b as more of an offensive postition than defensive. Did we play Sanchez a couple games at 1b when he was struggling as a catcher? I speculated on moving Judge to 1st base last year. If the Yankees were to sign Soto I think it makes a lot of sense to put Judge at 1st if he is up to the move. Some guys aren't. That does nothing for the infield defense but opens up center for an elite fielder to compensate for Soto. And it saves tread on Judge's wheels. |
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Post by cocopugg on Nov 1, 2024 18:47:46 GMT -5
One of the things most people take for granted when talking about losing Soto, is the fact that if Soto doesn't return, the Yankees won't be losing just one superstar, but essentially 2, since there is no one the Yankees can replace Soto with, who can protect Aaron Judge's at-bats more than Soto did. This, of course, is because of Soto getting on base so often in front of Judge, that pitchers were basically forced to pitch to Judge as a result. Let's just say, I really hope the Yankees end up signing Soto long term. Soto was to Judge, what Lou Gehrig was to Babe Ruth. If there would've been no Lou Gehrig, do we really think Ruth would've put up the numbers he did?
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Post by chiyankee on Nov 1, 2024 19:31:43 GMT -5
The List
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Post by yankeesfaninboston on Nov 1, 2024 19:31:49 GMT -5
One of the things most people take for granted when talking about losing Soto, is the fact that if Soto doesn't return, the Yankees won't be losing just one superstar, but essentially 2, since there is no one the Yankees can replace Soto with, who can protect Aaron Judge's at-bats more than Soto did. This, of course, is because of Soto getting on base so often in front of Judge, that pitchers were basically forced to pitch to Judge as a result. Let's just say, I really hope the Yankees end up signing Soto long term. Soto was to Judge, what Lou Gehrig was to Babe Ruth. If there would've been no Lou Gehrig, do we really think Ruth would've put up the numbers he did? I get what you're saying, but Judge won the MVP two years ago with DJ (110 OPS+ that year) hitting ahead of him and Rizzo (130 OPS+) hitting behind him. I'm not saying it wouldn't impact Judge to lose Soto, but it's a stretch to say we lose him as a superstar if Soto goes. |
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Post by bumper on Nov 1, 2024 19:52:59 GMT -5
One of the things most people take for granted when talking about losing Soto, is the fact that if Soto doesn't return, the Yankees won't be losing just one superstar, but essentially 2, since there is no one the Yankees can replace Soto with, who can protect Aaron Judge's at-bats more than Soto did. This, of course, is because of Soto getting on base so often in front of Judge, that pitchers were basically forced to pitch to Judge as a result. Let's just say, I really hope the Yankees end up signing Soto long term. Soto was to Judge, what Lou Gehrig was to Babe Ruth. If there would've been no Lou Gehrig, do we really think Ruth would've put up the numbers he did? I get what you're saying, but Judge won the MVP two years ago with DJ (110 OPS+ that year) hitting ahead of him and Rizzo (130 OPS+) hitting behind him. I'm not saying it wouldn't impact Judge to lose Soto, but it's a stretch to say we lose him as a superstar if Soto goes. agree. if anything judge was protecting soto which was part of the reason he had such a great year. of course his being on base 42% of the time helped judge's rbi count. but as you point out, in 2022 judge had a pretty damn good year w/o soto's ahem ... "protection".
btw not minimizing soto's value. we probably don't even make the PS w/o him. i would love to resign him, fully aware that signing him may leave some of our holes not filled to our satisfaction due to LT constraints.
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stu
AA
Posts: 82
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Post by stu on Nov 1, 2024 20:16:16 GMT -5
One of the things most people take for granted when talking about losing Soto, is the fact that if Soto doesn't return, the Yankees won't be losing just one superstar, but essentially 2, since there is no one the Yankees can replace Soto with, who can protect Aaron Judge's at-bats more than Soto did. This, of course, is because of Soto getting on base so often in front of Judge, that pitchers were basically forced to pitch to Judge as a result. Let's just say, I really hope the Yankees end up signing Soto long term. Soto was to Judge, what Lou Gehrig was to Babe Ruth. If there would've been no Lou Gehrig, do we really think Ruth would've put up the numbers he did? I think they helped each other and were a special combination historically. Soto had his lowest walk rate since 2019 but (outside of the shortened 2020 season) he slugged higher than he ever had before and also hit a career high with 41 home runs. Teams couldn't just put him on because Judge was up next. And Soto punished a lot of the extra strikes he saw. Ruth was killing the ball from 1920 onwards and Gehrig showed up in 1925, and didn't hit his full stride until 1927. So yes, I think Ruth was a terror with and without the Iron Horse. Actually probably had his 3 best seasons in the pre-Gehrig era. |
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Post by bumper on Nov 2, 2024 0:06:21 GMT -5
Cashman does his best work when he sorts through the bargain bins. certainly has had some good dives. interestingly weaver was universally trashed here when the trade made. for sure understand at the time it wasn't a move to be praised as he came in w 6+ era and had been dfa'ed twice already in 2023. got off to a rough start this season when he suddenly seemed to find "something". hope it's something he can continue. remember holmes was actually quite good before the wheels came off.
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Post by MoeMoney on Nov 2, 2024 6:33:36 GMT -5
I would love to have Soto back, but I really have to wonder how much longer can Judge play CF. Soto is not the best RF'er in the game and have no idea how he was even nominated for a gold glove award this year. It would not be the end of the world if Soto signed with another team as the team could address multiple areas of need with those funds.
We know if Soto is signed for a 55M or 60M a season, we will see guys like Durbin/Peraza at 2B and Rice/Rumfeld at 1B or bullpen not addressed or another SP that can go deep in games, then we will go through another year of coming up short in the post season.
One guy to keep an eye on is Bellinger who is a plus defender at both 1B and OF and his LH swing would play well at YS.
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Post by pippsheadache on Nov 2, 2024 7:23:19 GMT -5
One of the things most people take for granted when talking about losing Soto, is the fact that if Soto doesn't return, the Yankees won't be losing just one superstar, but essentially 2, since there is no one the Yankees can replace Soto with, who can protect Aaron Judge's at-bats more than Soto did. This, of course, is because of Soto getting on base so often in front of Judge, that pitchers were basically forced to pitch to Judge as a result. Let's just say, I really hope the Yankees end up signing Soto long term. Soto was to Judge, what Lou Gehrig was to Babe Ruth. If there would've been no Lou Gehrig, do we really think Ruth would've put up the numbers he did? I think they helped each other and were a special combination historically. Soto had his lowest walk rate since 2019 but (outside of the shortened 2020 season) he slugged higher than he ever had before and also hit a career high with 41 home runs. Teams couldn't just put him on because Judge was up next. And Soto punished a lot of the extra strikes he saw. Ruth was killing the ball from 1920 onwards and Gehrig showed up in 1925, and didn't hit his full stride until 1927. So yes, I think Ruth was a terror with and without the Iron Horse. Actually probably had his 3 best seasons in the pre-Gehrig era. Welcome aboard Stu. I am constitutionally incapable of resisting a Babe/Lou post. You made some excellent points on the pre-Lou Bambino. In fact his two best seasons for WAR were 1921 and 1923, when he put up an other-worldly 14.1 and 12.8. His more celebrated 1927 came in at 12.4. The lineup with Ruth batting third and Gehrig batting fourth didn't really take hold until 1927. In 1926 it was often Gehrig batting third and Ruth batting fourth, or when Babe hit third it was Bob Meusel hitting behind Ruth with Gehrig batting fifth. From 1920 through 1926, it was mostly Babe's barnstorming partner Meusel batting behind him -- Meusel was no slouch either, a borderline HOFer. Wally Pipp also sometimes batted fourth behind Babe, mostly in 1923. |
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Post by ypaterson on Nov 2, 2024 9:25:53 GMT -5
I would love to have Soto back, but I really have to wonder how much longer can Judge play CF. Soto is not the best RF'er in the game and have no idea how he was even nominated for a gold glove award this year. It would not be the end of the world if Soto signed with another team as the team could address multiple areas of need with those funds. We know if Soto is signed for a 55M or 60M a season, we will see guys like Durbin/Peraza at 2B and Rice/Rumfeld at 1B or bullpen not addressed or another SP that can go deep in games, then we will go through another year of coming up short in the post season. One guy to keep an eye on is Bellinger who is a plus defender at both 1B and OF and his LH swing would play well at YS. Good post. Too many Yankee fans think the world stops spinning without Juan Soto. The Yankees got to the WS this year, but the 94 win total is fewer than in '18. '19 or '22. I am not sure this team is better. Maybe the Astros had a down year and it opened the road to the WS. Maybe the Yankee blueprint for success is flawed. Guys like Soto sell a lot of tickets and draw a lot of interest. They are not always the best way to spend money. |
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