Yankees Projected As Most Improved At This Position…
Heading into the 2024 baseball season, the New York Yankees emerge as a team with one of the most significantly improved position groups, particularly in the outfield. This enhancement is not solely attributed to financial investments and strategic trades; it is substantiated by data analysis. MLB.com recently conducted a comprehensive evaluation to identify teams that demonstrated the most improvement in various position groups during the offseason. The assessment involved a thorough review of FanGraphs wins above replacement (WAR) data, comparing the leaderboards from the previous season (2023) with projections for the upcoming season (2024).
Remarkably, the Yankees have emerged as the team with the most improved outfield group based on the WAR data analysis. Their outfield, which ranked at a modest No. 25 at the conclusion of the previous season, is now projected to secure the top position going into 2024. This significant leap is the result of a series of strategic moves made by the Yankees to bolster their outfield capabilities.
The foremost and most notable move was the acquisition of Juan Soto in a trade executed in December. Soto, a formidable slugger, recently inked a substantial one-year deal with the Yankees worth $31 million for the 2024 season, marking the conclusion of his arbitration phase. This deal surpasses Shohei Ohtani’s record for a one-year arbitration salary set in the preceding offseason at $30 million. Soto’s impressive performance in 2023 included a batting average of.275, an on-base percentage of.410, a slugging percentage of.519, and a notable 35 home runs with 109 RBIs. Additionally, Soto earned his third All-Star Game appearance and played every game in a season for the first time in his career, securing a sixth-place finish in the National League MVP voting.
The second enhancement to the Yankees’ outfield came through the aforementioned trade for Soto, where they also acquired outfielder Trent Grisham from the San Diego Padres. Grisham, a two-time Gold Glove recipient, brings a valuable defensive skill set to the team, although his batting average has dipped below.200 in the past two seasons. He is anticipated to serve as a backup outfielder, adding depth and a plus defensive capability to the position group.
The third improvement involves the acquisition of Alex Verdugo from the Boston Red Sox through a trade. Verdugo, known for his stellar defensive abilities, posted a batting average of.264 in 2023, accompanied by 13 home runs and 54 RBIs. Notably, he has consistently hit at least 30 doubles in each of the last three seasons.
With Soto and Verdugo likely taking on starting roles alongside the established Aaron Judge, the 2022 AL MVP, who set a record for the most home runs in a season in the American League, the Yankees’ outfield stands out as the most improved in the league heading into the 2024 season.
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