1. A generational talent
2. The LH bat the Yanks have lacked
3. The Dominican star the Yanks have lacked
4. A clutch hitter
5. A better-than-advertised glove
6. Next year's premier free agent
In 50 at bats, Soto is hitting .360 with 2 HRs, and leads the AL in on-base percentage - our most explosive arrival since Gary Sanchez in 2016. He is already setting off warning sirens over a future long term contract, causing Hal Steinbrenner to poormouth on whether the small market Yankees can afford him.
Put bluntly, a star is in the house.
In that regard, it's a bit ridiculous to ponder what the Yankees gave up in last winter's trade with San Diego. Whatever, it was worth it, right? Still, here is where things stand for the Padres.
Kyle Higashioka is 1-11, hitting .091. That's Higgy. Decent defense, and he'll whack a few. Higgy is Higgy! He'll always be Higgy! You go, Hig Man!
Drew Thorpe, one of our top pitching prospects, who became a key cog in the trade for Dylan Cease. He has thrown one game for the White Sox at Double A. He went five innings, gave up no runs. He's 23. Obviously, if he becomes a great pitcher, we would whine...
Dylan Cease looks like an ace. Keep in mind the Padres gave up two other prospects, with Thorpe, to get him. They're both in a low minors. Way too soon to judge.
Randy Vasquez has thrown 7 innings at San Diego's Triple A level, with an 8.59 ERA. He didn't look good in spring training, a 5.91 ERA over 10 innings. Not worrying about this one.
Jhony Brito has been a similar washout. With the Padres, 6 innings, two losses, an ERA over 8.00.
Which brings us to Michael King, the guy we most hated to lose. At SD, he is 14 innings, two wins (a meaningless stat these days) and a 3.14 ERA. If King becomes a solid #2 starter behind Cease - well - pressure will build on the Yankees to sign Soto to a long term deal. More pressure is seldom a good thing. The Yankees generally have plenty.
One other thing: Neither Anthony Rizzo (.245) nor Alex Verdugo (.200) - the LH hitters who were supposed to shield Soto in our lineup - have been mashing.
Good thing we're 10-3. Otherwise, we might worry.
Kyle might be suffering from Ricky Ledee syndrome: a guy spends his career with a single organization and is discarded, then really sucks for the next team. Sometimes he never recovers at all, like Ricky. What becomes of the broken hearted? .091.
ReplyDeleteStill hated to lose King, but he was the most valuable of the bunch. No doubt a couple of the other guys will come around and be serviceable or maybe a little better. It's early yet. Pitchers take a while. I read recently that they hit their stride (generally speaking) at 27.
But is it great to have Soto? You bet your bippy it is.
Good summary.
ReplyDeleteBut what of the Verdugo for Richard Fitts, Greg Weissert, and Nicholas Judice trade?
Well Dick Fitts is in the minors and doing OK but Greg Weissart is rocking a 1.69 ERA in six appearances for the Sox. He's also 0-1 which means he blew at least one appearance.
Hey, if the Dick Fitts...
ReplyDeleteSorry, it's early.
The Soto deal all depends on signing him again. If we don't, it was pointless. And meanwhile, Cody Bellinger is hitting just .191 with the Cubbies, so thus far, Cashman's luck holds.
I didn't think of the Vertigo trade. Thanks, Doug. We might miss Weissart for a long time, too.
ReplyDeleteHoss, can you recommend a book or two on Black and Hispanic baseball history? Your book has got me more interested.
Your book is great. I know I've said that before, but it's worth repeating. Anyone who hasn't bought it, should.
ReplyDeleteI like Soto a lot, but as the Hossman said it's all about whether Hal signs him. If not he's just a Red Ryder bb gun we got for Christmas that our parents sold because "those bb's don't grow on trees ya know".
Just reading this morning about the gambling pool boy and he apparently placed 19,000 bets over a two-year stretch. That works out to around 26 bets a day every day. I have to say I admire his dedication to his craft.
Mildred I read one report that he lost 40 million dollars...
ReplyDelete"Shohei Ohtani’s interpreter Ippei Mizuhara lost more than $40 million through sports betting over a 26-month span, according to a bombshell criminal complaint released by federal prosecutors on Thursday.
Mizuhara, who was charged with federal bank fraud Thursday after being accused of stealing more than $16 million from Ohtani to cover gambling debts, allegedly placed about 19,000 bets, averaging roughly $12,800 per wager, ranging between $10 and $160,000, over a period from December 2021 to January 2024.
In total, Mizuhara won $142,256,769.74, and lost $182,935,206.68 through the illegal bookmaker." -- NY Post
So he "stole" 16M from Ohtani uh... where did he get the other 24M? Just asking.
Like everybody else, I’d love to get somethin’ for nuthin’ but that’s not how it works. Everyone gets wound up over King, but remember he is a FA after this season so we can get him back if we’re willing to pay for him. For me, Thorpe and Fitts were the biggest losses as they both project as solid starters who will be under team control for 5 years after this season. It’s easy to see Higashioka returning to the team in some capacity. Resigning Soto seems like a no-brainer, especially with Judge starting his decline, but will it preclude the team from spending elsewhere? Even with Soto I fear for the team’s viability over the next few years.
ReplyDeleteHoss - if the Dick doesn’t Fitt, must you acquit?
ReplyDeleteIs it early or too soon?
Right-O Hoss, if we don't re-sign Soto, it was pointless. Unless of 'course we win the championship this year, which is about as likely as Communist China, Russia, and Iran suddenly crumbling into dust and melting into the earth's mantle, like Atlantis of old.
ReplyDeleteIn fact, if he leaves, not only would it have been pointless, it still screwed us over. There is the opportunity cost to think about. Who else could we have obtained using those players that we traded? Someone who wouldn't have left after one year. A different direction that could have made the ball club better off in the long run. It would amount to another opportunity LOST.
Thinking about it that way, what happens with the careers of all those guys we traded away doesn't even matter. IT WAS STILL A STUPID TRADE, PURE AND SIMPLE. For the simple fact that we could've, should've, would've signed Soto for money after the 2024 season, and not given up anything in players.
Now, I confess, (as I did before), that I was secretly glad that they got Soto, but only because there would something to watch for this year. But still, it was an epically stupid deal. If they can re-sign him, then Cashman gets a "B" for this deal. If Soto leaves, then Cashman gets a freaking "F"! Nothing unusual about that!
The time to trade for Soto was back when the Washington Nats were doing their garage sale, after they won a championship. I was all for getting him then, but I don't think Cashman ever made an offer.
ReplyDeleteThere's only one reason for Soto's presence in pinstripes: to put fannies in the seats.
ReplyDeleteThe Yankees are a circus act, not interested in winning anything, but looking to amaze and entertain folks that are dazzled by brilliance or baffled by bullshit. Soto is just another shining new toy acquired to mesmerize the suckers who sit in the padded seats down below.
The players they gave up? Not a household name among them. So, the guys with the expense accounts aren't going to care.