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00:00Next up on our list, the aforementioned Juan Soto moving from the Bronx to Queens.
00:06The projections for him this year are 945 OPS.
00:09We know he's an on-base machine, a .277 batting average,
00:13about 10 stolen bases for good measure, and also looking about 35 home runs or so.
00:18When you're looking at Juan Soto and trying to evaluate him,
00:21this is a player that is going to be turning 26 by the end of the season.
00:25We know in OBP leagues how valuable he is.
00:28You can make a case for him as the number two overall pick in that format, too.
00:32But if you're playing a batting average, it might be a little bit different of a scenario.
00:35There's going to come pressure here, obviously.
00:37And we've seen this before, George, where guys sign massive contracts
00:41and sometimes get off to the races a little slow.
00:44We've seen Juan Soto have a really good spring.
00:46Sometimes that also starts you off a little slow in April, right?
00:49It's ebbs and flows. But you mentioned that lineup.
00:52When you've got Lindor on one side, Alonso, Vientos,
00:54Nimmo hopefully with that knee injection going through today,
00:58that he's going to be their opening day.
01:00It's a very formidable lineup. It's a good spot.
01:02And apparently the Mets weren't the highest bidders.
01:04We just found that out this weekend that the Red Sox
01:07and maybe another team were willing to go higher than the Mets and he chose Queens.
01:11So when you're choosing Juan Soto, what do you think you're getting in 2025?
01:16Are you concerned with somebody pressing under the weight of an enormous contract
01:21at least early on in the year as we've seen with Bryce Harper, Carlos Beltran?
01:25The list goes on and on over the years.
01:28Well, wasn't there more pressure on him last year in the Bronx, Yankees,
01:32and to try and get the big contract, right?
01:35And then he came through it flying colors.
01:37Listen, Juan Soto is a great hitter. He's not a great baseball player.
01:42He's an average outfielder at best. That's probably being kind, all right?
01:46He has his issues out there. He can make right field fun.
01:49He's not terrible, but he makes it fun.
01:50And his base running is nothing special either.
01:52But he's a fantastic hitter, all right? Is he going to hit 40-plus home runs?
01:57No, you're probably going to give him a little discount
01:59that he doesn't have Yankee Stadium in the short porch.
02:01Not that he hit a lot of them, but hey,
02:03I'm sure he took advantage of a few of them there.
02:05Although then again, he can hit the ball with a lot of power to left center.
02:09He doesn't have Death Valley to worry about either,
02:10even though Yankee Stadium is not what it used to be as far as Death Valley is concerned here.
02:14So he's going to hit his 34, 35 home runs.
02:16He's going to drive in over 100 runs, probably bat over 300.
02:19Listen, I said I would take judge over him.
02:22I said I would take Witt next, Soto's after that.
02:25So when you're splitting hairs here, you want to take Soto over judge?
02:28Fine. I don't know why you would do that.
02:30So, I mean, judge's numbers are probably going to be better across the board
02:33as far as home runs, RBIs, average.
02:36Stolen bases, neither one's going to steal a bunch.
02:39So you're not getting any advantage.
02:40That's why I'm going to take judge over him.
02:42But Joe, if you're telling me Soto is my first, you know, my anchor, my first player,
02:47I'm thrilled. I'll take that run every damn time.