Three Yankees offseason acquisitions have yielded huge returns so far this season. Going forward, the projection these players bring will pay dividends in the team’s pursuit of a pennant.
Three Yankees Acquisitions That Have Been Stellar
The New York Yankees are toe-to-toe right now with the Baltimore Orioles in the scorching hot American League East. The Yankees lead the division in wins and sit 24-12. The team has scored 187 runs and has let up 134. The club has been mowing down their opponents, banishing a violent lineup, and a very consistent pitching staff.
New York has always had a foundation of talent in recent years, however, their wallets added more ammo and certainty to the product on the field. Three Yankees offseason acquisitions that contribute in various ways include outfielder Alex Verdugo, right-handed pitcher Marcus Stroman, and the infamous outfielder Juan Soto.
Alex Verdugo
Former Yankee outfielder Brett Gardner was a staple on the Yankees Stadium grass. There have been short-term fill-ins and constant left-field vacancies since he left. The Yankees bit their tongue and proceeded to talk business with the rivals in Boston. They felt that outfielder Alex Verdugo may be a good fit for the Bronx and made that deal happen.
Verdugo, a second-round draft pick, has some experience and is now with his third big-market club. Verdugo has brought over grit and emphasis that fits the Yankee culture and gels well with the club, the environment, and his teammates.
Most importantly, Verdugo is a contributor. He currently has a .264 batting average, the same average he finished the 2023 season with. In 35 games and 125 at-bats, he has 17 RBIs on 33 hits and five home runs. His stick is low-key but stealthy in this lineup. He proves to be a streaky contact hitter who can get on base.
Verdugo works counts, wastes offerings, and has really good plate recognition. So far, he walks more than he strikes out, walking 17 times and striking out 14 times. His on-base percentage is key, sitting at .349, and he has come around to score 19 times. His role in the lineup is key, as he’s set up to drive in the consistent bats before him and be a duck on the pond for the fellas behind him.
Marcus Stroman
The price the Yankees paid for an established New York native was phenomenal. It was destined to happen as Marcus Stroman moved from Queens to the Bronx. With a brickhouse pitching rotation awaiting Gerrit Cole’s return, Stroman adds a ton of depth, reliability, and elite-level experience.
Stroman was a big-game pitcher from Toronto, bringing a strong aura of competition to the Yankees. He’ll eat innings while exploiting hitters with his shopping list of a pitching arsenal.
So far, he’s been a competitive addition to the rotation, pitching in four Yankees wins and comprising a 2-2 record. He’s thrown 42.2 innings with a 3.80 ERA, striking out 40 batters, walking 22. He’s expected to win at least 12 games this season.
Juan Soto
Juan Soto is by far the most straightforward transaction justified for 2024 so far. The character and antics of Soto complement his performance so far, and his paycheck makes absolute sense. Soto leads the league in various stats including hits (49), RBIs (33), on-base percentage (.437), OPS (1.023), and total bases (85).
Soto has a batting average of .338 and nine home runs. Each presence in the batter’s box is quality as Soto is an opportunist as a hitter. His pitch recognition and patience is noticeable and his swing is aggressive. Soto compliments the foundation of the team, working well with Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton, and Anthony Rizzo.
Juan Soto goes 440 feet to give the @Yankees the lead! pic.twitter.com/LgNUfHH0Hk
— MLB (@MLB) May 8, 2024
Main Photo Credits: John Jones-USA TODAY Sports
