BT began Wednesday’s show by praising the trade for Cody Bellinger and the Yankees’ offseason overall to this point, but Sal Licata doesn’t see where the Yanks are actually getting better after losing Juan Soto.
“You basically have traded Soto for Bellinger and [Max] Fried, and I would never do that,” Sal said. “I would rather have Soto every day of the week. I would have wanted Soto and [Christian] Walker…now, you could have Walker, Fried and Bellinger versus Soto and Walker, and I still would rather have Soto and Walker.
“[Bellinger] is a clutch hitter, and in Yankee Stadium, I expect him to be a more impactful lefty bat with power…but I still don’t think it’s as good as they would have been if they kept Soto and added Walker. Their lineup is not as good as it was a year ago.”
The Yankees also added Devin Williams as their new closer, who has posted the lowest ERA in the league among qualified relievers over the past five seasons. But Sal still doesn’t believe that the bullpen is clearly improved from last year’s group, even with the arrival of Williams.
“[Clay] Holmes was an All-Star last year,” Sal said. “Bullpens are fickle. How did Williams do in the postseason? I’ve seen this before with these relievers. They can be untouchable for one or two years, and then all of a sudden they get touched up.
“Holmes was a two-time All-Star with the Yankees…to me, that’s still a wash. Luke Weaver all of a sudden can’t get hit?”
BT believes the bullpen has undoubtedly gotten better, but Sal isn’t buying it, as he isn’t sure if Weaver will be as dominant as he was down the stretch last year, and isn’t sure when Williams will begin his decline.
“I don’t think that they did [get better],” Sal said. “I think it’s pretty much even.”