What will Yankees' 2024 lineup look like?

This story was excerpted from Bryan Hoch’s Yankees Beat publication. To learn the complete publication, click on right here. And subscribe to get it commonly in your inbox.

Aaron Boone understands that the panorama can — and normally does — change earlier than Opening Day, making the winter ritual of filling out lineup playing cards little greater than a enjoyable thought train.

But, with Juan Soto on his roster, the Yankees’ supervisor hasn’t been in a position to assist himself.

Various occasions, Boone has damaged out a pen and paper, scribbling out potential batting orders for the 2024 season. There have been some engaging ones, he says with a smile.

“Oh yeah, I’ve completed that loads,” Boone stated on Thursday afternoon. “I’ve acquired a handful that I may envision. So much is determined by another guys, too. I’m actually excited in regards to the winter that DJ [LeMahieu] is having, and the place [Alex] Verdugo slots in. Doubtlessly, for the primary time shortly, we’ve an opportunity to have three, 4, 5 lefties or righties on a given day. To have the ability to alternate them is one thing that will be fairly good.”

The addition of Soto, who was acquired from the Padres on Dec. 7, supplies the Yankees with one of many recreation’s most potent and affected person hitters. Verdugo, first baseman Anthony Rizzo and catcher Austin Wells additionally undertaking to supply left-handed pop, which the Yanks have lacked in current seasons, regardless of their inviting right-field porch.

“If we couple it with cheap well being round [Soto] and a few guys returning to kind, then it’s acquired an opportunity to be a particular lineup,” Boone stated. “The left-handed presence; you guys know the way a lot I obsess on the stability typically, particularly after we haven’t had it. He actually offers us that, with some others. I consider it has an opportunity to be an amazing match.”

Greatest query to reply earlier than Spring TrainingHow can the Yankees improve their pitching now that Yoshinobu Yamamoto is off the board? Even whereas negotiations with Yamamoto have been underway, they have been contemplating Plan Bs — a reunion with Jordan Montgomery or Frankie Montas, a commerce for the Brewers’ Corbin Burnes or constructing an excellent bullpen with Jordan Hicks. Shōta Imanaga is one other interesting possibility. New York’s employees had a strong 3.97 ERA final season, nevertheless it was a less-impressive 4.20 with out Gerrit Cole’s contributions. Cole is coming off an AL Cy Younger season, however Nestor Cortes and Carlos Rodón had injury-marred campaigns.

One participant poised to have a breakout seasonIt could also be odd to see a three-time All-Star and four-time Silver Slugger on this house, however Soto is able to take his recreation to a different degree. The 25-year-old’s star solely figures to turn out to be brighter in New York, particularly as he enters a contract yr after which his asking worth figures to be sky-high. FanGraphs tasks Soto to slash .284/.425/.558 with 39 homers, a 171 wRC+ and 6.8 WAR in 2024 — all enhancements over his ’23 numbers with San Diego. The Yankees could be thrilled with that, although it received’t ease the worth tag to maintain him.

Prospect to observe in 2024Will Warren will come into Spring Coaching with a legit likelihood to crack the roster. The Yanks’ No. 8 prospect based on MLB Pipeline, the 24-year-old righty is coming off a season wherein he was 10-4 with a 3.35 ERA in 27 video games (25 begins) between Double-A Somerset and Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Warren combines high-90s warmth with an bettering sweeper that has turn out to be his finest weapon, having gained velocity and life within the group’s pitching lab. Warren may observe a profession monitor much like Clarke Schmidt, who acquired his toes moist as a swingman earlier than securing a rotation spot.

One prediction for the brand new yearHelped by Soto’s safety and conscious of any Nineteen Sixties-era concrete limitations ringing the outfield, Choose will make one other run on the single-season American League house run document, seeking to eclipse the 62 he belted in 2022. Regardless of lacking 51 video games on the injured listing in ’23, Choose’s 37 homers ranked fourth within the AL, becoming a member of Mark McGwire as the one Main Leaguers to hit no less than 37 homers whereas taking part in in 106 video games or fewer (McGwire achieved that feat in 1995 with the Athletics).