John Sterling joined BT and Sal on Friday morning, before calling his 36th Yankees home opener in what has been an iconic broadcasting career.
But this home opener carried an extra buzz with the Bronx debut of Juan Soto, who Sterling says the Yankees need to pay and make sure he calls the Bronx home for the rest of his career.
“If the Yankees are really great this year and go deep in the playoffs, I don’t see how they couldn’t sign Soto,” Sterling said. “Before you say ‘Wait, that’s gonna cost a lot of money,’ the Yankees have a lot of money.
“If you make it here - I hate to use the cliché - but it’s a big thing if you’re a Yankee and playing right field. Babe played right field for the Yankees. Reggie played right field for the Yankees. If the Yankees are good this year, I don’t know how he could go anywhere else and achieve what you could achieve being on center stage in New York.”
Soto’s impact on the Yanks has been immediate, both in the field and especially in the lineup, which Sterling says is something the Bombers have desperately needed.
“I decried the Yankees striking out, not moving runners, not hitting the ball…putting the bat on the ball is so important,” Sterling said. “We’ve seen Volpe change a lot. I think we’ll see Soto help change that. He already has.”