While Juan Soto is numero uno this offseason, the New York Yankees are still negotiating for a few other players. After all, putting all of their eggs in one basket wouldn’t make much sense. So it wasn’t a surprise when it was announced that the lefty outfielder Alex Verdugo was getting traded from Fenway Park to Yankee Stadium. Even if the entry of Verdugo doesn’t affect Soto, it has surely signaled that things will have to change to make that deal work.

Verdugo was on the Yankees’ list since the beginning of the offseason. While the lefty will be a free agent next year, he will add stability and provide variety to the Yankees’ hitting lineup in 2024. But how will he fit in their present squad?

The pursuit for Juan Soto is still on but changes need to be made

Brian Cashman has made it clear that the Bronx Bombers need at least two left-handed outfielders. In recent years, the New York Yankees squad has become dominated by right-handers, creating an imbalance in the last season. As a result, only Juan Soto wouldn’t have solved their problem, making them pursue other names.

So the Yankees have traded Red Sox’s lefty Alex Verdugo for Greg Weissert, Richard Fitts, and Nicholas Judice. The slugger slashed .264/.324/.421 last season. Although he’s not big on home runs, he’s a consistent hitter. In a squad filled with heavy hitters, Verdugo would provide a stable presence in the batter’s box. 

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How does it affect the team’s Soto pursuit? It doesn’t. As Jon Heyman tweeted, “Acquisition of Alex Verdugo doesn’t preclude Juan Soto for the Yankees but it should preclude Trent Grisham”. The Yankees will still go after Soto, but it could affect Trent Grisham, the player the San Diego Padres offered with Soto.

Here’s Why Both the Yankees and Padres Need a Juan Soto Trade, Per Top MLB Insider

Grisham’s .198-hitting average is not attractive to the Yanks. Adding a struggling hitter to their already struggling lineup seems a bit redundant. As a result, the Soto deal will have to change, especially as the Bombers wouldn’t want to add another salary to their payroll.

The payroll issue of the New York Yankees

Per Fangraphs, the estimated payroll of the Yankees in 2024 is $246 million. They crossed the taxation threshold last year and are on their way to doing it again. They’ll be penalized 30% if they stay below $257 million but it will increase exponentially if they cross it. 

A Soto deal will no doubt take them on the wrong side of the numbers, so adding a player who is struggling and wouldn’t fulfill any of their needs wouldn’t make sense.

And so grows the mystery. Will the Yankees get Soto?

Watch This Story: ESPN Insider Drops Bold Juan Soto Predictions: Fans Eagerly Shout ‘Yankee’ With 100% Confidence.