Pinstripe Girl

I am so happy to finally be launching a blog. I have always wanted a space to just let out my thoughts on the Yankees. I can’t wait to update regularly throughout the season. I am most excited to talk about the off-season moves the Yankees have made so far this off-season.

I’d like to start with the trade of Juan Soto. The move that made tons of Yankees rejoice in celebration. Let’s refresh the details: the San Diego Padres traded Trent Grisham and Juan Soto to the New York Yankees in exchange for Michael King, Kyle Higashioka, Jhony Brito, Randy Vasquez, and Drew Thorpe. Juan Soto instantly becomes a game changer for the Yankees. A young, generational talent that helps anchor Judge in the lineup and add more pressure to opposing pitchers. However, we shouldn’t overlook the addition of Trent Grisham. He’s an excellent bench piece and late game defensive replacement that could potentially earn the right to be more. Now, the Yankees did give up five players. Firstly, they gave up Michael King: the centerpiece for the trade. Michael King has proven to be a very talented pitcher, whether as a reliever or a starter. The only concern one could have with King is his elbow health and strength. The Yankees also gave up veteran catcher Kyle Higashioka, a guy who was drafted by the organization in 2008. He had spent his entire career in New York. Now I know he wasn’t loved by all Yankees fans, but gave his heart and soul. He knew the organization and its pitching staff inside and out, and he always supported them. His clubhouse presence will be missed. Onto Brito and Vasquez, two young pitchers just scratching the major league surface. They were instrumental in providing spot starts and pitching support this past season due to numerous injuries. And while they had their slips, they both showed promise. Finally, Drew Thorpe. A young, bright prospect that has been mentioned as a future ace multiple times. Was it worth it? No one truly knows if a trade is worth it until we see the players in action. Personally, I do think it was worth it for the Yankees. Aaron Judge and Gerrit Cole are not immortal, the time to strike is now. Juan Soto is an instant game changer. Brito, Vasquez, and Thorpe are part of the plan now, and their involvement down the road may not matter once Judge and Cole age out. Higgy’s time as a catcher for the Yankees had run its course. With Trevino and Wells both on the roster, there’s no room for Higgy anymore. The toughest player to lose in this deal was Michael King. There were many hopes that he’d be a key piece in the starting rotation for the 2024 season. However, Juan Soto is more valuable, and King’s UCL issues are a disaster waiting to happen. All in all, the trade was THE move, and I can’t wait to see the Soto Shuffle in the Bronx.

The next big move was signing Marcus Stroman to a two year deal. The move that no one saw coming, but has caused quite the reaction. I’ll be the first to admit, I’m not a fan of his, but at least I’m not blocked on “X”. The very public critiques of the organization and the obvious disdain for Yankees fans does not make a good impression. Stroman did state he wanted to play for the Yankees, after all he grew up a fan. He also attempted to mend fences by going back and deleting any posts he made on “X” about the organization and the fans. Now, Stroman is a competitor. He’s intense and he’s confident. Hopefully, for his sake, he can back it up, and prove fans like me wrong.

As of right now, there have been no other big moves made by the Yankees. They have made an offer to Blake Snell, although Boras feels he deserves more (no surprise there). They have also discussed Wandy Peralta and Keynan Middleton. Hopefully, they make more moves before Spring Training. We’ll see how it goes.

Grace, out. Byeeeee!