Last season, the New York Yankees boasted one of the most formidable lineups in Major League Baseball, featuring two of the game’s top offensive players: Aaron Judge and Juan Soto.
Their pairing drew comparisons to legendary Yankees duos like Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig, who became immortalized in baseball history for their offensive dominance.
In 2024, Soto, 26, delivered an impressive performance with 41 home runs, 128 runs scored, and 109 RBIs in 713 plate appearances. He was named an American League All-Star and earned a Silver Slugger award.
Judge, 32, was just as explosive, belting 58 home runs, scoring 122 runs, and driving in 144 RBIs in 704 plate appearances. He too was selected as an All-Star and won a Silver Slugger award, and was named the American League’s Most Valuable Player for his outstanding season.
But now, Soto is no longer with the Yankees.
In a highly competitive bidding war, Soto signed a massive 15-year, $765 million free-agent deal with the Mets, the Yankees’ city rivals. Fans will now watch him wreak havoc in the Mets’ lineup, just across the borough from Yankee Stadium.
Judge and Soto were an almost unbeatable combo—Judge from the right side and Soto from the left. Together, they posed a nightmarish dilemma for pitchers: do you pitch to one and not the other? Or do you risk both? The result was often an overwhelming display of offensive firepower. Soto walked 129 times, while Judge walked 133 times, including 20 intentional walks.
This season, Soto’s absence leaves a significant void in the Yankees’ powerful lineup, and the team may also be without Giancarlo Stanton for an extended period due to elbow soreness. Stanton’s injury could cause him to miss time at the start of the season, and the problem might persist. The Yankees are hoping that newly signed free agents Cody Bellinger and Paul Goldschmidt can help fill the gap left by Soto and possibly Stanton.
- Aaron Judge
Bellinger, 29, will take over in center field. A left-handed hitter, Bellinger should benefit from the right-field porch in Yankee Stadium, but his inconsistency at the plate over the past few seasons makes him a bit of a “boom or bust” player. If Bellinger finds his stride, he could help offset the loss of Soto.
Goldschmidt, 37, will play first base. While his best years are behind him, the Yankees hope he can still find a spark to contribute to their offense.
Meanwhile, second baseman Gleyber Torres has signed a one-year deal with the Detroit Tigers. While not a star, Torres did provide some impactful moments for the Yankees, particularly in the postseason.
Jazz Chisholm Jr., 27, comes over from Miami in a trade from July 2024 and will start the season as the Yankees’ second baseman. An exciting player, Chisholm will likely bat leadoff, setting the stage for Judge, who will continue to hit second.
The Yankees’ current tax payroll stands at $293,886,666, ranking just behind the Dodgers, Mets, and Phillies. While they are spending heavily to remain competitive in the tough American League East, the question remains: with Judge and Stanton’s health concerns, do the Yankees have enough offensive firepower to surpass teams like the Los Angeles Dodgers or the Mets?
For this scout, the pressure on Aaron Judge to deliver big in 2025 couldn’t be greater.
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