Yankees Acquire Juan Soto

The FanGraphs Newsletter, December 7, 2023 [READ IN BROWSER]( December 7, 2023 The Yankees have acquired Juan Soto from the Padres in exchange for Michael King, Drew Thorpe, Jhony Brito, Randy Vásquez, and Kyle Higashioka. New York is also getting Trent Grisham in the deal. Soto and the Bombers have been linked all offseason, but it seemed like San Diego might hold off on a move until Shohei Ohtani signed with an eye toward marketing Soto to the teams who missed out. Instead, the Yankees jumped the queue and acquired perhaps the best hitter who was available this winter, whether by trade or free agency. You already know the deal with Soto. He’s a modern-day avatar of plate discipline who won the Home Run Derby a few years ago. He’s walked more frequently than he’s struck out in each of the last four seasons while launching 104 homers. His 159 wRC+ is the fourth-best in the majors since the start of the 2020 season, behind new teammate [Aaron Judge]( [Yordan Alvarez]( and [Mike Trout](. His .431 on-base percentage laps the field; [Freddie Freeman]( is second at .410. He’s durable, to boot: he started 160 games this year and pinch-hit in the other two. Soto doesn’t project as the second-best player on the Yankees next year, but that’s only because Steamer projects him as the best player, slightly ahead of Judge, with 6.4 WAR over 666 plate appearances. That’s the second-best projection for any hitter, period; [Ronald Acuña Jr.]( occupies the top spot, and only Alvarez projects for a better overall batting line. ZiPS is slightly lower on him, but only slightly; it had him down for 5.8 WAR in San Diego, with similar on-base skills to Steamer but slightly less power. I feel a little silly trying to sell you on how good Soto is. He’s Juan Soto! You know he’s phenomenal. [Read More]( [García, Cimber, and Tonkin Join New Bullpens on One-Year Deals]( The Angels and Mets, both among the bottom five in reliever WAR this past season, raised their bullpen floors with some low-profile signings. | by Leo Morgenstern [E-Rod Heads to D-Backs For Many C-Notes]( The Diamondbacks have wisely decided that they should probably avoid a three-man rotation next year. | by Dan Szymborski [The Reds Add Jeimer Candelario, But Who Will They Vote Off the Island?]( Ah, yes, another slightly-above-average hitter who plays multiple positions in the infield. That's just Cincinnati's type. | by Ben Clemens [JAWS and the 2024 Hall of Fame Ballot: Mark Buehrle, Andy Pettitte, and a Little Experiment]( Two workmanlike southpaws have gotten little traction from voters, but with a dearth of upcoming candidates who are even that strong, perhaps they shouldn't so easily be dismissed. | by Jay Jaffe [Pirates Add Veteran Throwback Gonzales To Bolster Young Staff]( He's anything but speedy, though that might play to the Pirates' strengths of old. | by Alex Eisert [The 2023 Rule 5 Draft Scouting Reports]( A round up of the players taken in the Major League phase of Wednesday's Rule 5 Draft. | by Eric Longenhagen and Tess Taruskin 🎧 [Effectively Wild Episode 2094: Double Secret Shobation]( [DOWNLOAD THE FANGRAPHS APP]( [FanGraphs & Effectively Wild Merch Is Now Available at BreakingT!]( [ORDER HERE]( [Shohei Ohtani's secretive free agency is a missed opportunity for him and MLB]( by Buster Olney, ESPN ['Get your popcorn ready': Soto deal ignites Hot Stove]( by Mark Feinsand, MLB [9 Minor League Rule 5 Picks That Caught Our Attention]( by Geoff Pontes and J.J. Cooper, Baseball America ($) [From free agent whispers to riverboat rides: A day at the MLB Winter Meetings]( by Stephen J. Nesbitt, The Athletic ($) [@fangraphs]( [FanGraphs]( [FanGraphs]( [RSS]( [FORWARD]( [SUBSCRIBE]( Copyright © 2023 FanGraphs Inc, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you subscribed to the FanGraphs Newsletter. Our mailing address is: FanGraphs Inc 1200 N Hartford St. Apt 312Arlington, Va 22201 [Add us to your address book]( Want to change how you receive these emails? You can [update your preferences]( or [unsubscribe from this list](