Tonight, the New York Yankees and San Diego Padres completed a trade that was going on the entire day. The Yankees are acquiring Juan Soto and Trent Grisham from the San Diego Padres in exchange for Michael King, Drew Thorpe, Randy Vasquez, Jhony Brito, and Kyle Higashioka.
Soto, just 25, is one of the game's top superstars. On top of having a World Series win under his belt, he's also a 3x All-Star, 4x Silver Slugger, a HR Derby Champion, and having won the batting title, Soto produces at such a high rate.
Pairing Juan Soto with Aaron Judge creates that much needed offensive duo in the Bronx. Soto slashed .275/.410/.519 with 35 home runs and 109 RBI in 2023. He finished sixth in NL MVP voting, acquired a Silver Slugger Award, and was an all-star. Soto accomplished all that, while playing in the full 162 games.
There is no doubt this was needed for the Yankees. After an abysmal 2023 season, the Yankees needed to make a move that was not only good for the team, but for the fanbase. Aaron Judge, 31, and Gerrit Cole, 33, are in the midst of their primes. It was necessary to add a generational talent like Soto to the roster.
Soto is set to become a free agent after the 2024 season. Although reports stated that Soto will test free agency, this gives him a season to feel out New York and form an impactful opinion on if he'd like to remain in pinstripes or seek out another destination.
Coming over in the deal is also Trent Grisham. A platoon outfielder to pair with Judge, Soto, and Verdugo. Grisham, slashed .198/.315/.666 but shows great upside on the defensive side of the ball. Grisham was added in as salary relief, as he is set to make $5 million this upcoming season.
This trade for the Padres made all the sense in the world. There is no doubt Soto's contract was the driving force of this all. Set to make $30 million this season, the Padres financial situation could not have paid Soto. In exchange for Soto and Grisham, the Padres received Michael King, Drew Thorpe, Randy Vasquez, Jhony Brito, and Kyle Higashioka.
Michael King and Drew Thorpe are the headliners in this deal. King, coming off a 2.75 ERA season, was slotted to take over a rotation spot in New York. Thorpe, who won minor league pitcher of the year award and the Yankees top pitching prospect, has huge upside and should be in the big leagues shortly.
Vasquez and Brito are two minor league pitchers who have seen major league time. The Yankees simply had no spots for these two, unless moved to the bullpen.
Kyle Higashioka, who has spent the last seven seasons with the major league club, is a defensive first catcher. Higashioka will no doubt be up with the Padres and is said to be a great clubhouse veteran for some young catchers.
This trade was inevitable for both the Yankees and Padres. The Padres dump salary and get four promising pitchers as well as a solid catcher who could be the starter, and the Yankees get one of the top players in baseball to pair alongside Aaron Judge. It was a match made in heaven from the beginning. Juan Soto is officially a New York Yankee.