The New York Yankees will do well to remember that their previous offseason started with a major setback before it turned into a promising few weeks of blockbuster additions.
As the team looks to re-sign Cody Bellinger, reset the infield with a new star or bring in a high-caliber starter, it will want to keep in mind that the winter can be long and full of twists and turns. Suffering a setback to their plans, like seeing Bellinger move on to a different contender, would be nothing new.
Just last year, the team lost superstar slugger Juan Soto to a record-breaking contract from the New York Mets. It was a blow to the roster, but the Yankees then pivoted to the additions of Max Fried, Bellinger and others.
But even though the Yankees successfully moved on from Soto almost a full year ago, they got a recent reminder of his time with the team when he left a one-word comment on franchise slugger Aaron Judge’s personal update on social media.
“The job still isn’t finished,” Judge posted in a caption on his Instagram page featuring his daughter. “Excited to get back to work in front of the greatest fans in the world. Thank you all for the support along the way!”
Judge’s captain was accompanied by a picture of his new daughter in front of a glass display reading “back to back AL MVP.” It was a reference to the consecutive American League Most Valuable Player Award that Judge won after another stellar individual season. And his reference to the unfinished job ahead was to note that his biggest goal is to win a World Series championship, rather than any individual accolades.
Shortly after Judge published his post, Soto left a one-word comment reading: “Capitán!!”
It was a positive sign of sportsmanship from Soto, who took a step back both in his individual performance and in the standings with the New York Mets this past season. And that’s notable, considering that shortly after Soto’s departure from the Yankees, as the crosstown rivals played a highly anticipated Subway Series this season, he voiced some frustration about the interest in their relationship.
“He’d agreed to be miked up by ESPN in the second inning but changed his mind minutes before the game,” NJ.com’s Bob Klapisch reported on Soto after he faced the Yankees for the first time as a member of the Mets. “Soto told Mets officials he was tired of answering questions about Yankees captain Aaron Judge and sick of explaining why he chose the Mets.”
But after a full season on his new team, it seems Soto no longer minds being associated with the Yankees captain.
