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It was brewing for a day or two but the deal is now done. Alfonso Soriano is officially a New York Yankees slugger once again. Word is he will be in the starting line-up on Friday night and batting cleanup after the completed trade with the Chicago Cubs. This is a huge deal for the Yankees and it solidly makes them a threat again in the American League East division race.
Entering play on Friday night the Yankees are 6.5 games out of first place and behind a few teams. Still as with anything else in Major League Baseball, a long winning streak changes a lot. Now the Yankees will have a more potent line-up immediately. Soriano batting clean-up will put him in prime position to help make things happen and put runs on the board for the Yankees.
It won’t be easy and I’m not suggesting this will win it all for them, but this is a great deal that gives the Yankees a solid chance to climb back into the race. It is very possible that a big bat like Soriano is capable of being will change everything or at least should. There are issues past the ones that Soriano will fix for the team but to bring a former Yankee like Soriano back in a year when he has been producing very well, is a huge move.
I don’t think the Yankees could have made a better move for all this gets them. They gave up pitching prospect Corey Black who was the Yankees fourth round pick in the 2012 MLB Draft. Cash considerations are also involved. You probably won’t see someone shouting from the broadcast booth that Soriano is back, but to be sure there should be some cheers in the stands when he steps into the box. Hopefully Soriano will slug his way back into the hearts of Yankees fans.
David Miller is a Senior Writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @davidmillerrant, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google Plus.
