In a bid to upgrade the existing roster, the New York Yankees are mulling to make meaningful acquisitions. From free agency signing to blockbuster trades, everything is on the table for now. Winter meetings are happening next week, wherein fans expect the front office to make strong decisions.
Meanwhile, Juan Soto, the Padres superstar, has remained linked to the New York Yankees in a blockbuster trade deal. While the Padres have their reservations, the Bronx Bombers stand a real chance at landing Soto if they make the right offer. Amid speculations, MLB expert suggested a trade chip that could be key to the generational star’s blockbuster exchange.
Clarke Schmidt A Potential Trade Chip For Yankees To Land Juan Soto!
As the New York Yankees enter the offseason with the goal of strengthening their roster, one name that has emerged as a potential trade chip is pitcher Clarke Schmidt. Drafted by the Yankees in the first round of the 2017 MLB Draft, Clarke Schmidt has been a part of the organization’s farm system. He eventually made it to the big leagues by steadily progressing through the ranks. Furthermore, prior to the 2023 season, Schmidt got a chance to feature in the active rotation due to injuries to key starters. While Clarke initially struggled to adapt to the major league atmosphere, he displayed signs of life towards the final stretch. Across 33 games, the pitcher posted a 9-9 record with a 4.64 ERA while striking out 149 batters over 159 innings.
At just 27 years old, Schmidt represents youth and potential upside for any team acquiring him. This factor could be particularly appealing to organizations looking to build for the future, especially the San Diego Padres. They lack pitching depth and reportedly asked for throwers in exchange for Juan Soto. The Yankees have enough depth in that department. Besides ready products, the Bombers boast a wide range of prospects ready to thrive in MLB within a couple of years. Thus, Schmidt, in particular, could add much value to the Yanks exchange offer. Having said that, whether Schmidt remains in pinstripes or becomes a key piece in a trade, his development will be closely monitored by both the Bombers and the broader baseball community in the coming seasons.
Juan Soto’s Trade Rumors Fueled With Fresh Updates
Despite uncertainties, New York Yankees-Juan Soto’s alleged trade rumors refuse to die down. As per the latest bite by Andy Martino of SNY, the Bronx Bombers and San Diego Padres have made progress and exchanged names to be included in the blockbuster deal of the off-season. Martino also added that the Padres’ initial ask was steep, which stalled the talks. That’s a reason why the teams have not been able to reach an agreement just yet.
Earlier, rumors of the Yankees and Padres engaged in preliminary talks surfaced on social media. However, the New York Post’s insider dismissed the speculation, stating the talks happened during the trade deadline and not during the off-season. While these new claims remain unverified, it’s only a matter of time before the Bombers formally approach the Padres with an offer.
