Former New York Yankees outfielder Juan Soto is predicted to return to the team, according to ESPN’s leading on-air personality on Wednesday. While there is only one “excuse” for him to leave the Yankees, MLB analysts have stated it’s “unlikely” that the generational slugger will pursue that alternative.
What makes Soto a “generational” talent? A statistical analysis of his first six MLB seasons reveals that only one player in history has posted numbers comparable to Soto’s—Ted Williams, often regarded as the greatest player of all time. In essence, talents like Soto’s are extremely rare and appear only once per generation. Williams, who played from 1939 to 1960, spent his entire career with the Boston Red Sox.
One Team Offers an Excuse for Soto to Leave the Yankees
The Yankees, with 27 World Series titles and 41 Fall Classic appearances, most recently reached the World Series last season, where they lost to the Los Angeles Dodgers in five games. Stephen A. Smith, ESPN’s top sports analyst, believes that signing with the Dodgers is the only “excuse” for Soto to leave the Yankees. Smith made this claim on the network’s First Take program, in response to Chris “Mad Dog” Russo’s assertion that Soto might sign with the Red Sox. However, Russo admitted he had no inside information to back up his claim about Soto heading to Boston.
“I don’t appreciate you bringing that up if you don’t have inside information,” Smith replied, defending the idea of Soto staying with the Yankees. “Don’t be trying to jinx stuff! Don’t do that.”
Smith then emphasized that the only reason Soto would leave the Yankees would be to join the Dodgers. “There is only one excuse on the planet Earth for Juan Soto to leave the New York Yankees, and that’s if you go to the Los Angeles Dodgers. There is no other reason to leave the Yankees,” Smith said.
Los Angeles Considered Unlikely to Sign Soto
How likely is it that Soto will end up with the Dodgers? Despite the reported interest, most experts believe it is unlikely. MLB.com insider Mark Feinsand reported that while the Dodgers have met with Soto, they are not expected to sign the four-time All-Star.
Smith, 57, also dismissed the Red Sox, calling them merely a “fair-weather stepchild” of the Yankees. While the Red Sox have won eight World Series titles in 13 appearances, the team’s fortunes have shifted since the turn of the century. Since 2001, the Yankees have won just one World Series in four appearances, while the Red Sox have won all four of their recent World Series appearances.
Additionally, the two teams have faced off in four postseason series, with the Red Sox winning three, including a historic comeback in the 2004 American League Championship Series, where they overcame a 0-3 deficit to win in seven games—the only time in MLB history a team has come back from such a deficit.
