The Yankees strengthen the outfield and acquire Dominican Óscar González via waivers

The Major League Baseball offseason is in full swing and franchises continue to move to strengthen themselves for the 2024 campaign. The New York Yankees are no exception and have recently announced a move to add to their roster.

This is the young Óscar González, who was acquired via waivers after being released by the Cleveland Guardians. Team in which the Dominican played the last two seasons.

This move will help the Bronx team strengthen its outfield for next season. An area in which they suffered a lot in 2023 and do not want to repeat the same thing again for 2024.

González is only 25 years old and in his two seasons in the Major Leagues he has played 145 games. In which he averaged .268 with an OPS + of 125, 27 doubles, 11 home runs and 43 RBIs.

The Dominican has been seen playing mostly in right field. Although he has also played several games as a left fielder and even as a designated hitter. The arrival of González to the Big Apple represents the first reinforcement of the Yankees and a piece that can help them have more options in the outfield in times of injuries, just as they experienced last season, when they had up to 12 players in the injured list.

With González on the Yankees payroll, the team’s crop of young players also grows. Joining prospects like Anthony Volpe, Oswald Peraza, Oswaldo Cabrera or his compatriot Jhony Brito.

Yankees and Padres advance negotiations for Juan Soto

The New York Yankees’ additions for next season continue on their way. And the main objective of the Bombers management is a left-handed outfielder and hitter, which is why the Dominican Juan Soto is the franchise’s number one priority for 2024.

The San Diego Padres have control over the Dominican for only one more year, so it could be advisable to agree to a trade this season. According to several reports, the conversations between both managements are well advanced and some names are already appearing that the Southern California team would have put on the table to include in the exchange for Soto.

According to Andy Martino of SportNet New York, the Padres would have asked Anthony Volpe, Jasson Domínguez, Michael King and Clarke Schmidt to the Yankees for the Dominican slugger. However, from The Bronx the demands of the Friars were not convincing.

The same Martino report states that the Yankees’ counteroffer removes Volpe and Dominguez from the deal. And it includes Venezuelans Oswald Peraza and Everson Pereira in their place. While the pitchers demanded by San Diego would have been accepted.

For now, negotiations for Soto would continue and it seems inevitable that he will leave San Diego this year. While the Yankees also manage to sign Cody Bellinger as a free agent.

Keep reading:
· Reports claim that it would be “almost a fact” that Juan Soto will be traded from the San Diego Padres
· Randy Arozarena is starting to talk about moving to the Big Apple and wearing the Yankees uniform
· Dominican Luis Severino, former Yankees pitcher, would have reached an agreement with the Mets