The New York Yankees want a solid left-handed hitter this offseason. They are looking at a few options closely at present. But the most popular choice would be Juan Soto of the San Diego Padres. Moreover, the Bronx Bombers need someone like Soto who can take some load of captain Aaron Judge. On the other hand, the Padres are trying to cut as much as 20% of their payroll this offseason. Then they might deal with Juan Soto. However, there is no confirmation as such from their end. Again, there are rumors that the Padres would like to continue with Soto for one more year as it remains in his contract.
Then the Yankees might look elsewhere at other free agents. Obviously, the biggest free agent available on the market is Shohei Ohtani. But the Yankees might not be able to afford him. Instead, the NY side should look at another talented lefty hitter, Cody Bellinger. He practically grew up in a Yankee household because of his father, Clay Bellinger. Moreover, Cody has an impressive resume, with a World Series title that he won in 2020 with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Why Yankees Should Push Harder For Cody Bellinger?
In the previous offseason, Bellinger signed a deal with the Chicago Cubs. Previously, he had back-to-back seasons with the Dodgers plagued with injuries. He wanted to rebuild his career with the Cubs last offseason. Moreover, he did have a great season with the Cubs, personally speaking. He hit .307/.356/.525, along with 26 home runs and 20 stolen bases. Moreover, the 28-year-old played over 130 games last season. It proves that he’s healthier than ever. Hence, he is a perfect choice for the Yankees. Cody can be the difference between Shohei Ohtani and Juan Soto.
Albeit, Bellinger will surely ask for a significant deal after an excellent year he had with the Cubs. However, it won’t be as expensive as Ohtani or the average salary of $33 million that Soto will demand in the next season. Anyhow, it must be a homecoming for Cody Bellinger if the Yankees can sign him this offseason. They sure need a lefty hitter, as they have a short porch in the left field. Moreover, the Yankees need a player who can hit homers with their captain around.
NY Side May Want Juan Soto To Join Judge In The Roster
The NY side really is over-dependent on the record-breaking home run hitter. But when teams play such a long regular season, depending too much on a single player can be a lot risky. That’s what happened this year, as Aaron Judge hurt his toe midseason. Later, the captain missed several games as he was out for over a month.
While Judge was out, the Yankees lost several games, and the damage was too big. Even when Aaron Judge returned to the lineup, the Yankees could not fix the damage. That’s the reason why the 27-time champions need another superstar outfielder in the team. Hence, the most appropriate option would be Juan Soto. Moreover, there is a chance that the Padres will let Soto be a free agent as they are trying to fix their payroll issues.
