The New York Yankees lost an offensive juggernaut that will be difficult to replace when the New York Mets made Juan Soto the highest-paid athlete in sports history. In the MLB, Soto’s 7.9 WAR,.989 OPS, and 41 home runs placed him sixth, second, and third, respectively.
The Yankees haven’t done anything to make up for Soto’s loss thus far. The team’s main goal has been to bolster their pitching staff. Their most significant offensive acquisition was the Chicago Cubs’ Cody Bellinger, an outfielder/first baseman who finished the previous season with 2.2 WAR,.751 OPS, and 18 home runs—far below Soto’s output.
A well-known Yankees podcast is now arguing that the organization should trade for a player who led the MLB in WAR during his most recent season when healthy in order to fill the void left by Soto and add another player of All-Star caliber.
Yankees Urged to Pursue Carlos Correa
Carlos Correa, a shortstop for the Minnesota Twins, recorded 7.2 WAR in 2021, but a heel injury that ultimately proved to be plantar fasciitis ended his 2024 campaign. After making a successful comeback in September, Correa finished with 13 hits in 40 at-bats and a batting average of.325.
Ryan Garcia and Alex Wilson, co-hosts of Fireside Yankees, have urged the Yankees to acquire Correa, highlighting his domination in the regular season and the playoffs. “Carlos Correa is what we desire. Garcia stated in a podcast on December 26 that “if the Twins are at least listening, it means they’re not completely opposed.” “This move would secure a World Series ticket,” Wilson continued. A balanced lineup would improve the Yankees as a club.
They admitted on their X (formerly Twitter) account that obtaining Correa might be expensive and necessitate a large prospect haul. They countered that this action would establish the Yankees as real World Series contenders.
Correa’s Legacy and Financial Concerns
Correa’s six-year, $200 million contract accounted for 26% of the Twins’ $129 million payroll in 2024. Relocating Correa’s salary might be a top goal for the Twins if they want to maintain a smaller budget.
However, because of Correa’s role in the 2017 Houston Astros sign-stealing scandal, not all Yankees supporters are in favor of him moving to New York. That year, the Astros won the World Series after defeating the Yankees in the American League Championship Series, which left some players and fans bitter.
Critics contend that Correa’s contract is more appropriate for an MVP-caliber player and that he is too costly. “Yes, he is talented, but we have more important things to do,” the site Bleeding Yankee Blue wrote.
