24 is our focus and trying to uh
become that last team standing
once again.
Um As we've done in years gone
by, uh that's the focus.
So, you know, that's really,
that's what the Yankees are all
about is the, is obviously
what's, what's the, how's it
best to position us for 24 and
how's how best generally to
position us for our very next
season.
I had a lot of conversations at
the trade deadline actually with
AJ Kreller um on SOTO and, and
we're not talking about Verdugo
with this, but I actually had
trade deadline conversation in
Boston on Verdugo and, you know
, we've seen him obviously
within the rivalry.
I don't think this, this New
York situation is going to be a
problem for him.
Uh I think he embraces the big
stage, but they shared a lot of
information at that time with us
about players of interest um
that it was a precursor to
building what eventually has
taken place now.
Uh So even though we were unable
to acquire soda at the deadline
, um you know, the, the healthy
dialogue that we were having
with AJ Kreller, um you know,
gave us a road map to kind of
pick up where we left off, um,
you know, starting in
Scottsdale.
So we understand that, uh, he's
, he's a free agent at the end
of this, uh, term.
Um, and, uh, but, you know, we
understand that it's a possible
short-term situation and I know
he's just gonna make our team
significantly better.
You know, we attacked this
winter like every other winner
or trade deadline in season.
Um, you know, we, you know, put
our best foot forward to see if
we can pull down something
that's of interest to us.
And so we've had a lot of
conversations, um, you know, and
I think both teams in the end
got, you know, exactly what they
would be looking for.
It hurt a lot on our end to give
up some real, you know, pieces,
but you have to give to get as
you all know, and, and, uh, so
we, you know, we certainly
imported one of the best hitters
of the game has today and also,
uh, you know, don't sleep on
Grisham.
He's a, you know, he's a nice,
you know, quality, uh, we
believe championship caliber
piece as well.
Uh, that adds to our mix and
gives our, our manager Aaron
Boone a lot more choices than he
had before this move.
You know, we're better protected
, you know, uh, in a lot of
different ways, whether you're
facing a right-hander one day
versus left hander another
versus the, the grind of the
season that plays out or
injuries that, that obviously
unfortunately occur along the
way.
I think that we have a lot more
choices today to, uh, to
navigate your, uh, lineup
decisions for the manager and
the coaches downstairs.
And Then, Then we would, if we
hadn't pulled off these more,
more recent acquisitions of
Verdugo British and, and soda,
but pitching is definitely an
area focus without a doubt, it
was before these deals.
But clearly, you know, your
point being since we lost, we
off boarded pitching to, to make
these deals, um onboarding,
pitching is gonna be important,
no doubt about it.
It's another manifestation of,
of the Steinbrenner, um you know
, legacy.
Uh I think George Steinbrenner
uh always felt that, you know,
the best players in the world
should play here for the New
York Yankees.
And I think that was always what
he tried to accomplish um and
had a lot of success along the
way, not always being able to
pull them off, but constantly
trying to do that.
And obviously, Hal Steinbrenner
and, and Jenny and Jessica uh
have continued those efforts.
And, and so, you know, juan Soda
is the latest example of that of
, of their efforts to try to
bring the greatest uh most
talented baseball players the
world can provide uh to play and
call home uh here in the Bronx,
New York uh for our fan base.
And so, uh we're excited by, you
know, the opportunities, you
know, uh this provides for us as
we move into the 24 season and,
and, uh, you know, we're hopeful
, hopeful that, that uh his
impact along with his teammates
can, can provide some great
baseball that plays deep into
October for, for our fans.