Abbott or Costello? Buzz or Woody? Wayne or Garth? Joey or Chandler?
Dynamic duos have been a part of our culture for generations, and baseball has been no stranger to the concept, particularly in the Bronx.
Ruth and Gehrig. Mantle and Maris. Jeter and Bernie.
The acquisition of Juan Soto this winter created a new powerful pinstriped pair, lining up the three-time All-Star next to 2022 American League Most Valuable Player Aaron Judge.
Soto hears ‘M-V-P’ chants after electrifying Yankee Stadium again
Judge — who was named captain after he signed a nine-year, $360 million deal prior to the 2023 season — is undoubtedly the face of the franchise, but which of the two sluggers is the key to the Yankees’ success in 2024?
We polled more than a dozen front-office executives with that exact question: Is Judge or Soto more important to the Yankees this season?
Judge (8 votes)
Soto (6)
Tie (1)
Judge edged his teammate by just two votes, with one executive unable to pick a side in this difficult debate.
“Judge … because he is the Yankees,” one National League executive said. “He’s the guy they know is going to be there forever, and although they hope the same for Soto, they don’t know yet. I think if Judge plays well, that team rolls. When he doesn’t, they don’t. But there are 29 other teams in the league that would love to have that question on their roster!”
“The answer has to be Judge, right?” another NL exec said. “The difference in production from him they got the last two years is a lot bigger than whatever variable outcomes Soto might have.”
Judge is off to a slow start this season, slashing .189/.337/.378 with three home runs and 11 RBIs in his first 20 games. But unlike last year, when the Yankees’ offense went cold after Judge landed on the injured list, this year’s lineup ranks in the top five in nearly every offensive category.
Back in session: Judge blasts 1st HR of 2024 in wild win
By contrast, Soto has gotten his Yankees career going with a bang, slashing .347/.468/.600 with five homers and 20 RBIs in 20 games, leading the Majors with 18 walks in the process.
“I would go with Soto,” an NL executive said. “He takes the pressure off of everyone else in the lineup — especially Judge — by getting on base, but also having the ability to drive in the people that get on in front of him. It also helps that he is in a contract year.”
Soto’s impending free agency was noted by multiple executives, not only for the potential motivation factor, but also because this might be his only year in pinstripes.
Cashman on Soto: ‘We’d love to have him for a long time’
“I think Soto might be more important based on the fact that they gave up prospects for him in hopes of securing him beyond this year and into free agency,” an NL executive said. “Ideally, Soto has a great year — which he’s off to a good start — develops those relationships and wants to stay, which would be unique for a [Scott] Boras client.”
Another executive said it was “a close call,” ultimately pointing to Soto being left-handed as the tiebreaker, as he balances the Yankees’ lineup and his swing is tailor-made for Yankee Stadium.
