Yankees' lineup has been deeper and more productive without Juan Soto

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Much of the Yankees organization, though it was never stated publicly, breathed a collective sigh of relief when Juan Soto spurned a 16-year, $760 million offer to stay in the Bronx in favor of a 15-year, $765 million package to head to Queens.

It had nothing to do with “wanting” to shed themselves of Soto, who had the best offensive season of anyone on the club not named Aaron Judge and helped lead the Yankees, especially with his performance in the postseason – along with Giancarlo Stanton’s – to their first World Series since 2009.

Rather, the thought was, with the significant roster holes needing to be filled, some of that money, though certainly not all, would be better served spread around to shore up other areas of need.

And, in doing so from an offensive standpoint, making what had been a very good lineup with Soto even better. And deeper.

It has played out that way 2 ½ months into the season.

The Yankees, after bludgeoning two of the Royals best starting pitchers in victories Tuesday and Wednesday, came into Thursday night’s series finale leading the majors in, among other categories, homers (108), runs per game (5.53), on-base percentage (.345), slugging (.468) and on-base plus slugging (.813). They’re third in runs (365).

The numbers, more than anything, reflect the better “balance” top to bottom the Yankees hoped to accomplish with their lineup this season compared to last.

Not that 2024 was an offensive disaster by any means as the Yankees ranked first in homers (237) and ranked third in runs (815), OBP (.333) and OPS (.762).

“I think our lineup’s really good, really deep,” said Cody Bellinger, one of those brought aboard in the offseason to mitigate the loss of Soto and who has caught fire after a slow start. “I think it’s a lot of unselfish at-bats, and we’re all getting ready for the next guy. Try to do your job, get on base and the next guy will take care of it. We’re doing a really good job of that right now.”

The Yankees have bettered themselves from last year in almost every way across the board.

Among two that don’t get as much attention: they’re hitting .266 with an .810 OPS with two outs compared to .230 with a .728 OPS last season; and the Yankees have already had 17 innings in which they’ve scored five runs or more after producing 15 such innings all of 2024.

“I just think it’s a credit to our approach,” said Bellinger, who tripled to spark a five-run second inning in Wednesday night’s 6-3 victory. “I think it’s a credit to the length of the lineup…Two outs in this game, there’s one more out, whether on offense or defense, there’s one more big out to get. You just have to keep on going.”

Manager Aaron Boone mentioned the constant communication that takes place between hitters on what they’re seeing from a given pitcher. Even after a player strikes out, it is not an uncommon sight to see that player, on his way back to the dugout, pause and say something to the on-deck hitter.

“It’s a testament to those guys,” Boone said. “A lot of those guys, obviously, are in the middle of really good years, and I think kind of the trust and the communication they have with one another within innings, within games, allows them to continue to put up good at-bats, which puts you in position to have some big innings.”

Jazz out of lineup

Jazz Chisholm Jr., who left Tuesday night’s game with a stiff neck only to return to the lineup Wednesday night and then left that night’s game with left groin tightness, did not start Thursday night but said he would be available if needed.

“It just tightened up and I didn’t want to force it and cause an injury to myself,” said Chisholm, who felt the discomfort running the bases in Wednesday night’s game. “I can play. Definitely.”

By Erik Boland

erik.boland@newsday.comeboland11

Erik Boland started in Newsday's sports department in 2002. He covered high school and college sports, then shifted to the Jets beat. He has covered the Yankees since 2009.