The Yankees got some great and some expected news on November 20. First Luis Gil was named American League Rookie of the Year by the Baseball Writers of America. Gil won the Rookie of the Year voting in one of the closest races ever. It was a good thing that the Yankees had two of the three finalists. Winning the Rookie of the Year Award is a small consolation for New York, who were defeated by the Los Angeles Dodgers in five games in the World Series.
Also, Yankees slugger Juan Soto declined a qualifying offer, in a move that is hardly a surprise. The Yankees were required to give the free-agent slugger a qualifying offer and it surprised nobody that he declined the qualifying offer. Soto is expected to receive top dollar as the most prized free agent in Major League Baseball. Soto is already being courted by some of the most high-spending teams and the Yankees are expected to be in on him.
Yankees Pitcher Luis Gil Wins American League Rookie of the Year
It was good news the Yankees needed when they found out on November 20 that Pitcher Luis Gil won the Rookie of the Year award in the American League. In one of the closest votes ever, Gil defeated Oriole slugger Colton Coser 106-101. Players get first, second-, and third-place votes from the writers that are tallied to determine the winner.
It is not surprising that Gil had a close vote. He was unhittable at the beginning of the season when he was one of the best pitchers in the Major Leagues, but he came back down to earth in the second half of the season. The playoffs are not counted as part of the voting, where despite an almost two-week layoff, Gil was mediocre.
It is a good thing that Luis Gil won the American League Rookie of the Year. Gil will be needed by New York to be a key starting pitcher for the next season. It is hoped Gil will find accuracy, and team with Gerrit Cole at the top of the Yankees starting rotation. New York hopes that the Gil they saw in the first part of the season will be the Gil they see next season. That is possible because Gil will be another year older with another year of experience.
Juan Soto Declines Qualifying Offer
As a free agent, Yankees slugger Juan Soto declined New York’s qualifying offer. This was a mechanical move that meant very little in the Soto sweepstakes. Soto is already being courted by some of the highest-spending teams in Major League Baseball. The Yankees need to sign Soto and outbid the other teams in the market.
It is thought Soto liked playing for New York so much that if there is a tie between offers Soto should pick New York, but he is expected to go to the highest bidder. New York needs to sign Soto at any price. As a 26-year-old he is young enough to justify a long-term investment and pairing him with Aaron Judge will maximize both of their talents.
Conclusion
It was very good for New York they had two of the three nominees for the Rookie of the Year Award in the American League. At two premium positions too, starting pitcher and Catcher Austin Wells. That fact bodes well for the future. Signing Juan Soto needs to be New York’s highest offseason priority. Then, they need to improve their roster, because the roster last year was good enough to get to the World Series, but not good enough to win it. Winning the World Series is the goal in New York, every year.
