One of the biggest names many have been anticipating and speculating on throughout the off-season is officially off the trade market. The New York Yankees acquired three-time all-star power-hitter Juan Soto from the San Diego Padres. The New York Post was the first to report the official acquisition, and the Yankees made it official late Wednesday night.

This is the second time in less than two years that Soto, 25, is involved in a blockbuster trade. In 2022, the Padres acquired Soto from the Nationals. Now, in 2023, the Padres turn around and send Soto to the Bronx.

Along with Soto, the Yankees also acquired center fielder and two-time Gold Glove Award winner Trent Grisham.

Soto in 2023 batted .275/.410./.519 with a .929 OPS. He had 32 doubles, one triple, and 35 home runs. He drove in 109 RBIs and had 97 runs scored. He walked 132 times and had 12 stolen bases.

He ranked 10th in the National League in home runs in 2023 with 35, second in the NL in OBP with a .410, and seventh in SLG with a .519 SLG. He led the MLB in walks (132) for the third time in his career and has six straight seasons ending with an OBP of over .400.

Along with being a three-time All-Star, Soto was a four-time Silver Slugger and won the batting title in 2020.

The Yankees this offseason needed lefties, and along with Verdugo and Soto, they fulfilled that need with Grisham. In 2023, the two-time Gold Glover batted .198/.315/.352, with a .667 OPS. He had 31 doubles, one triple, 13 home runs, drove in 50 RBIs, and had 67 runs scored, along with 75 walks.

With the acquisition of Soto, Yankees manager Aaron Boone told Meredith Mararakovitz of YES Network that Soto will be in right field, Aaron Judge in center field, and Alex Verdugo (acquired Tuesday from the Boston Red Sox) in left. Boone stated that Soto is “as good an offensive player as there is,” before the trade was official. “He is a machine offensively, on base, power, and has accomplished a ton already at a young age,” said Boone. Even Derek Jeter said at the 2023 All-Star Game that he would not mind the Yankees going out to get Soto. And they did just that.

 

HEADING WEST

In exchange for Soto and Grisham, the Yankees sent right-handed pitchers Michael King, Drew Thorpe, Randy Vasquez, Jhony Brito, and catcher Kyle Higashioka to the Padres. Thorpe was ranked as the Yankees’ fifth-best prospect by MLB.com.

King, a Yankee fan-favorite, went 4-8 with a 2.75 ERA in 2023. He accrued 127 strikeouts and had a WHIP of 1.15 in 104 2/3 innings pitched.

Thorpe split the season between High-A Hudson Valley and Double-A Somerset. Between the two, he was an impressive 14-2, with a 2.52 ERA and 182 strikeouts. He had a WHIP of 0.98 in 139 1/3 innings pitched. He was the SAL’s 2023 Pitcher of the Year and a 2023 SAL Post-Season All-Star.

Vasquez was 2-2 in 2023 with a 2.87 ERA. He struck out 33 and had a 1.27 WHIP in 37 2/3 innings pitched.

Brito in 2023 was 9-7 with a 4.28 ERA. He had 72 strikeouts over the course of 90 1/3 innings pitched and a WHIP of 1.22. Brito struggled a bit this season but is a pitcher with the potential to give the Padres quality outings.

Higashioka became Cy Young Award pitcher Gerrit Cole’s everyday catcher. In 2023 he batted .236/.274/.413, with a .687 OPS. He hit 13 doubles, and 10 home runs, drove in 34 RBIs, and scored 24 runs. He walked 14 times.