Breaking: Aaron Judge gets brutally honest on Juan Soto’s impending free agency
With the 2024 MLB All-Star Game set to take place on Tuesday, players are engaging in media appearances on Monday. During Aaron Judge’s availability, he was asked about his New York Yankees teammate Juan Soto’s impending free agency. Judge shared his efforts to convince Soto to stay long-term but emphasized that the decision ultimately lies with Soto and his family.
“You know that decision’s all based on him and his family and what they want to do and what feels right, so as a teammate it’s just about being supportive for him and showing him what New York can offer,” Aaron Judge said, via Yankees Videos on X. “But I think the fans have definitely shown him a lot of love, shown him what he means to this city. You know, I wish him nothing but the best, you know, he’s going to make the right decision for what’s best for him and you know we’d definitely love to have him in New York for a long time, but it’s ultimately up to him to make that choice.”
The Yankees acquired Juan Soto from the San Diego Padres last offseason, knowing he was one season away from becoming a free agent. The hope is to retain him long-term and build a formidable lineup around the dynamic duo of Aaron Judge and Soto for years to come. Despite the recent struggles for the Yankees, the impact of Judge and Soto in the lineup has been evident this season.
In the All-Star Game, Soto and Judge will bat third and fourth for the American League, behind Steven Kwan of the Cleveland Guardians and Gunnar Henderson of the Baltimore Orioles. The Yankees will resume action on Friday at home, starting a four-game series against the Tampa Bay Rays.
"The fans have definitely shown him a lot of love. I wish him nothing but the best. We'd definitely love to have him in New York for a long time."
– Aaron Judge on Juan Soto pic.twitter.com/xZ5JeZBUsS
— Yankees Videos (@snyyankees) July 15, 2024
Yankees’ trade deadline needs
The New York Yankees’ needs ahead of the MLB Trade Deadline have evolved over the past few weeks. While targeting bullpen arms remains a priority—as it is for every contender—the Yankees’ bullpen has shown significant improvement recently, making this less of an urgent need.
Initially, it was believed that the Yankees required a corner infielder, but rookie first baseman Ben Rice has been impressive since his call-up to the majors. This doesn’t eliminate the possibility of adding a first baseman, but it shifts the focus more towards acquiring a player who predominantly plays third base or second base.
The Yankees currently sit one game behind the Baltimore Orioles in the American League East. New York holds a strength of schedule advantage over Baltimore for the remainder of the season, with more home games and weaker opponents. However, to maximize their chances not only for the American League East title but also for a World Series title, the Yankees need to address a few key areas at the deadline.