By Anthony Caruso III | Publisher
The New York Yankees had a lackluster offense last season. They are hoping that their latest blockbuster move will change that.
The Yankees made a huge deal to acquire Juan Soto late Wednesday night from the San Diego Padres.
Their horrid offense cost their former hitting coach Dillion Lawson his job in July. Former MLB player Sean Casey was hired for the second part of the season.
The team eventually finished with a .227 batting average, according to Baseball Reference. The team also recorded 219 home runs and 650 combined RBIs.
Baseball Reference says that of the American League teams, the .227 batting average was 14th out of the 15 teams. They were nearly 10th or worst in the majority of the categories.
General Manager Brian Cashman is hoping that Soto will immediately change that. Alex Verdugo, who was also acquired in a trade with the Boston Red Sox, may have an impact on the offense too.
But Soto could spark the offense better than Verdugo can. The slugger had 35 home runs and 109 RBIs this past season.
Plus, by putting Soto in the lineup with a healthy Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton, it would be a tough dilemma for pitchers. If they pitch around Soto, then it could lead to better pitches for those around him in the batting order.
There is some speculation that Stanton may not be able to play again due to his recent injuries. We will have to see what happens with that moving forward.
The 35 home runs by Soto would have been second last year, as Judge led the team with 37 home runs.
Three other Yankees had more than 20 home runs. Gleyber Torres had 25, while Stanton had 24 and Anthony Volpe added 21.
The 109 RBIs would have been the most on the team by more than 30. Judge led the team with 75 RBIs.
Torres had 68. Stanton and Volpe had 60 each.
Soto could change the Yankees fortunes. And put the team back in playoff contention.
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