Mike Colón Media

The Yankees add a generational talent and reclaim their identity in the process

A seven player blockbuster brought a 25-year old generational talent in Juan Soto to The Bronx. After a day’s worth of seemingly a million and one different reports from a variety of wanna be insiders plagued with a bad case of gotta be first-itus, the biggest trade the Yankees have made since the Alex Rodriguez deal in 2004 finally came to fruition just before midnight Wednesday.

And at last it seems, general manager Brian Cashman, a man busy running the Yankees into the ground, seemed to remember what the history of his franchise is. In the annals of sports’ most prestigious franchise, a common theme has been prolific lefty power bats. From Babe Ruth, to Mickey Mantle, Reggie Jackson, and Lou Gehrig , left handed offensive dynamos have long been a staple of Bronx Bomber championship teams.

It would continue through the dynasty years of the late 90’s, when lefty power if not equally potent switch hitters were present with the likes of Cecil Fielder, Darryl Strawberry, Tino Martinez, Paul O’Neill, David Justice, Jorge Posada, and Bernie Williams all serving as key contributors in balancing out lineups that had a myriad of different ways to beat you and so often times in those days did.

Even the last Yankees championship team of 2009 contained lefty prowess in the form of Hideki Matsui, Robinson Cano, Johnny Damon, and switch hitter Mark Teixeira. Yet, it seemed in recent years, the front office forgot or flat out ignored all of that. Placing a heavy emphasis on righty bats, Yankee brain trust made the mistake of foolishly believing right handed power was equivalent to left handed power in a stadium with a right field short porch that makes any hitter worth his weight salivate. For years, even when the Yankees had successful seasons of 90+ or even sometimes 100+ wins, the one thing missing come October was that difference making lefty to compliment right handed juggernaut Aaron Judge.

Giancarlo Stanton, another righty, was not the answer. Neither was DJ LeMahieu, yet another righty. And Anthony Rizzo, though still an effective lefty, cannot at this stage in his career be asked to be the answer. At 25 years old however and coming off a 109 RBI, 35 Home Run, 132 walk season, Soto, who cemented himself as one of the sport’s premier hitters from day one when he entered the league as a 20-year old with the Washington Nationals, is now the answer. The balancer and the star to back up the captain and deepen a lineup previously rudderless and balance bereft.

Ranking near the bottom of the league in offense in 2023, Aaron Judge’s injury shortened output of 35 home runs and 80 RBI was akin to a Maserati parked next to a dumpster. With not just Soto, but Alex Verdugo as well, the team will for first time since 2009, when the lineup consisted of Nick Swisher, Brett Gardner, and Johnny Damon, have a legitimate outfield.

Will there be pressure? Of course. Will the stakes be magnified? Yes. In New York City they always are. But pressure is a privilege. And as a former World Series Champion, Soto understands that perfectly. Acquired by a general manager feeling the heat of a fan base hot on his case following a disastrous 82–80 campaign and 14 going on 15 seasons without so much as a World Series appearance let alone championship, the challenge is something he’ll relish not regret. Dare I say, the “Evil Empire” as former Red Sox boss Larry Lucchino once notoriously labeled them, may just be back.

Mike Colón is the host of the Mic’d In New Haven Podcast which can be found on all podcast platforms and is simulcast in video form on YouTube