Breaking News: Yankees have reportedly shown interest to acquire another top player

In an ideal scenario, the New York Yankees would aim to bolster their lineup with an additional impressive hitter for the 2024 season. There’s optimism in the possibility as per insights from Francys Romero, an MLB reporter, who mentioned the Seattle Mariners actively pursuing Jorge Soler from the Miami Marlins. Simultaneously, the Yankees have also shown interest in acquiring Soler.

 

 

For those unfamiliar with Soler, he’s a 31-year-old outfielder renowned for his exceptional right-handed batting skills. In the previous season, across 137 games, he achieved a .250/.341/.512 batting line, slamming 36 home runs, driving in 75 runs, with a strikeout rate of 24.3%, a walk rate of 11.4%, and a 126 wRC+.

It’s crucial to highlight that Soler currently embodies a superior version of Giancarlo Stanton. Interestingly, like Stanton, he has significantly reduced his outfield appearances, logging only 241.2 innings last year. Despite limited outfield time, he maintained a flawless fielding percentage but recorded -5 defensive runs saved and -3 outs above average.

Stanton’s Contract straps the Yankees

Obtaining Soler appears highly improbable while he remains with his current team. Despite this, the Yankees retain hope that the 34-year-old power hitter can rejuvenate his performance in the upcoming season. There’s optimism surrounding his potential resurgence, given his efforts to trim down his physique and enhance his agility.

“All I can tell you is, he is getting after it,” Aaron Boone recently said. “He’s always a very focused person and player. I would say that’s on overdrive to make sure he’s in a really good spot heading into Spring Training. I think he’s consumed with making sure that he goes out there and has a Giancarlo-like season. I think G’s got a big year in him, I really do.”

Stanton has been experiencing a decline in performance over the past few years, evidenced by his .191/.275/.420 batting line last season, where he managed 24 home runs and 60 RBIs. Notably, it marked the first instance in his career where his wRC+ dropped below 100, indicating he performed below the league-average hitter.

There’s a glimmer of hope that Stanton can reverse this trend and regain his form in the future. However, the Yankees are confronted with the reality of owing Stanton a substantial $98 million over the coming years, extending until a $10 million buyout in 2028. Additionally, Stanton possesses a full no-trade clause, necessitating his consent for any potential trade that would allow the Yankees to replace him in the designated hitter role.

While there’s a slim chance the Yankees could persuade Stanton to waive his no-trade clause, potentially for Miami—the team that initially signed him to the long-term deal before his move to the Yankees in 2018—it remains improbable given his considerable financial situation.

Considering these circumstances, the idea of acquiring Soler seems more like wishful thinking at the moment. Nevertheless, surprising developments have occurred in the baseball market before, such as the Yankees acquiring Juan Soto from the San Diego Padres. Though unlikely, the current situation is undeniably more complex and challenging.