Keith McPherson heard a debate on SNY over whether or not the Yankees are now better than they were before Juan Soto signed with the Mets, and he made the argument that it could actually be the case.
“The Yankees were prepared for that,” Keith said of Soto’s departure. “I think Brian Cashman was counting on that, because there were more holes to fill than signing Juan Soto. Losing Juan Soto is a gaping hole, but they needed a philosophy change…the scouting report that the Dodgers read so loudly to everybody was that they weren’t good on defense.
“I don’t know why you guys forget that Aaron Judge is on this team…you put Cody Bellinger, a former MVP in his lineup, he’s not old and he’s not watched. There’s production there. I would bet that Paul Goldschmidt looks more like 2022 Paul Goldschmidt than the version you saw in 2024.”
The Yankees have bolstered their pitching staff with the additions of Max Fried and Devin Williams, while fortifying the defense with Bellinger and Goldschmidt, who hope to soften the blow offensively with Soto leaving for Queens. Breaking up the duo of Soto and Judge is crippling, but Keith believes Soto leaving allowed the Yanks to shore up other areas of the roster that were exposed in 2024.
“We talk so much about that fifth inning…but in the World Series, Juan Soto was exposed,” Keith said. “The ball either going over your head or dropping in front of you, taking the wrong route. The Dodgers literally had a scouting report that you didn’t know where to line up.
“There is a silver lining. There is life after Juan Soto…better days are ahead. These are the New York Yankees. They’re going to be good.”