Derek Jeter suggests Yankees trade for Padres All-Star OF

New York Yankees legend Derek Jeter suggested Tuesday night that the Bronx Bombers should trade for San Diego Padres stud outfielder Juan Soto.

Jeter made the comment while he was working as part of the Fox broadcast at the 2023 MLB All-Star Game.

"I do believe the Padres could get hot and make some waves in the NL West," the five-time World Series champion said. "But if they don't...if they don’t have a good next couple of weeks, I wouldn’t mind seeing the Yankees go out and get Juan Soto."

Jeter argued that with Aaron Judge's uncertain timetable, the Yankees "need some offense."

The 2022 AL MVP has suffered multiple ailments this season and is currently on the injured list due to a toe issue. Judge hasn't played since June 3 and has missed 42 of the team's 91 games this season. He played in a career-high 157 contests during the 2022 campaign.

Manager Aaron Boone's club is 49-42 overall and 30-19 with the right fielder in the lineup, while going just 19-23 without him.

In an effort to jumpstart an offense that is 29th in MLB in hits (690) and is tied for the second-worst team batting average (.231), New York hired former All-Star first baseman Sean Casey earlier this week to be their next hitting coach. With veteran bats like Giancarlo Stanton and DJ LeMahieu stuck in major funks though, the Yankees could go big for a superstar youngster like Soto, who has a .265/.419/.479 slash line, leads the league in walks (83) and doesn't turn 25 until October.

Jeter also likes the versatility Soto could bring to the Yankees outfield.

"(Put him) wherever you want," Jeter said. "Put him in left or right."
All 89 of the former Home Run Derby champion's defensive appearances during the 2023 regular season have come in left field, but he's played 301 contests in right field as well (389 in left).
Soto still has one year left of eligibility before entering free agency in 2025.

The three-time All-Star would balance out New York's lineup, giving them a pair of lefty mashers in Soto and Anthony Rizzo to go with righty sluggers in Stanton and Judge (if and when he returns this year).

It was only 11 months ago that the Padres acquired Soto in a trade with the Washington Nationals, but after last fall's elimination in the NLCS, this year has been a massive disappointment for the star-filled Friars.
San Diego (43-47) comes out of the All-Star break in fourth place in the NL West, 8.5 games behind the division-leading Los Angeles Dodgers (51-38) and Arizona Diamondbacks (52-39). The Padres are also six games back of the San Francisco Giants (49-41) for the third and final wild-card spot.