Juan Soto’s Bronx Return: The Yankees Are Better Without Him

When Juan Soto returns to Yankee Stadium this Friday in a New York Mets uniform, he’ll find that his former team is getting along quite well without him.

In fact, by many indicators, the 2025 New York Yankees are playing better baseball without Soto. And they’ve used his departure to strengthen themselves in ways that are beginning to prove decisive.

Now, through 42 games this season, the Yankees are 24–18 — slightly behind last year’s 27-15 start. But we’re just a quarter into this season. And there’s a lot more baseball to play.

What matters most for the Yankees is that they remain atop the American League East — positioning them for another playoff run and shot at the World Series. For the Yankees, 28 is the only number that matters right now.

The Yankees Are Deeper, More Durable Without Soto

Toward that World Series championship goal, losing Soto was a net positive for the Bronx Bombers. They’ve got a roster that is deeper and more durable thanks to his departure.

Soto’s move over to Flushing has allowed the Yankees to shift Aaron Judge over to right field — preserving his health and maximizing his output. He’s also a defensive upgrade over Soto.

Judge is having a historic season, leading all of Major League Baseball in six offensive categories with a .414 batting average, 40 RBIs, 66 hits, .770 slugging percentage, a 1.268 OPS, and 3.6 WAR. He’s tied for the MLB lead in home runs, with 14.

Trent Grisham Is Quietly Outperforming Soto

The Yankees are also reaping the gains from the original trade that brought them Soto from the San Diego Padres. Trent Grisham, acquired in the same trade, is batting .294 with 12 home runs and 22 RBIs in just 109 at-bats — outperforming Soto’s current .255 average, 8 home runs, and 20 RBIs.

Grisham, who plays center field, is making just $5 million this year — a fraction of Soto’s $61.9 million salary.

Soto’s exit also opened up more playing time for rising star Jasson Dominguez. The 22-year-old is taking the DH spot when he’s not playing left field. After a slow start, both he and Cody Bellinger, the pricey outfielder-first baseman the Yankees acquired in an offseason trade, are heating up.

In May, Dominguez is hitting .276 with 3 home runs and 7 RBIs, while Bellinger is hitting .286 with 2 home runs and 5 RBIs.

Now, Bellinger isn’t living up to his $25 million salary. But the Yankees also used the rest of their Soto money for acquisitions to make smarter acquisitions — and it’s paid off.

Goldschmidt Plus Fried Is a Better Deal Than Soto

The Yankees signed veteran Paul Goldschmidt to a one-year, $12.5 million deal to replace Anthony Rizzo, who never quite recovered from recent injuries. Goldschmidt is batting .344 with 4 home runs and 21 RBIs, anchoring the heart of the lineup alongside Judge.

But perhaps the biggest strategic win came not in the lineup, but on the mound. The Yankees’ biggest offseason move was the signing of ace Max Fried to an eight-year, $218 million contract.

With Gerrit Cole out for the year, Fried has stepped into the role of staff ace and is dominating with a 1.11 ERA. Not only has he filled Cole’s shoes, he’s arguably exceeded them. The Yankees didn’t just find a replacement — they found a new number one. Fried right now is the best pitcher in baseball.

As a team, the Yankees lead the majors in home runs, slugging percentage, OPS, walks, and runs scored. And they’re near the top in batting average. They’ve hit 22 more home runs than the Mets.

So by letting go of one superstar, the Yankees have built a better-balanced, more resilient roster. They’ve upgraded their lineup for less, invested wisely in pitching, improved their outfield and right side of the infield defense, and kept Judge healthy — all while putting up better numbers.

When Soto steps into the box on Friday night, he’ll certainly get a “Bronx cheer.” But Yankees fans should be cheering for their own team, which has proved it doesn’t need Soto to contend.