Juan Soto compared to Joe DiMaggio and Babe Ruth after Yankees acquired the 25-year-old in blockbuster trade with San Diego by Michael Kay: ‘An all-time great and that’s not hyperbole’

Baseball analyst and play-by-play announcer Michael Kay had high praises for outfielder Juan Soto shortly after it was announced that he was acquired by the New York Yankees in a trade on Wednesday. 

While declaring Soto an ‘all-time great’, Kay compared New York’s newest acquisition to legends Joe DiMaggio and Babe Ruth.

‘They got themselves an all-time great and that’s not hyperbole,’ Kay said. ‘You look at his numbers at the age of 25 and they measure up with the DiMaggios, and the Williams, the Babe Ruths, that’s the type of player they got.’

Kay went on to commend the Yankees for landing Soto after a disappointing season.

‘That’s why you give up the package they gave up to get this guy for what is essentially one year,’ Kay added, referring to Michael King, Drew Thorpe, Kyle Higashioka, Jhony Brito and Randy Vasquez going to San Diego.

The Yankees acquired Soto from the San Diego Padres in a blockbuster trade on Wednesday 

Soto played for the Nationals before joining the Padres and has 160 homeruns in his career

‘They could end up signing him to a long-term deal but he’s that important, he’s that impactful, he changes the whole thought process of the way people look at the Yankees right now.’ 

Soto spent the first four years of his career with the Washington Nationals before playing for the Padres this past season. 

Aside from winning the World Series in 2019, four Silver Slugger Awards, three All-Star and two All-MLB first team selections, Soto has an astonishing 160 homeruns with a .284 batting average. 

The acquisition has fans excited as Soto now joins forces with reigning MLB MVP Aaron Judge. The Yankees are also expected to enter the sweepstakes to sign another 25-year-old ace in RHP Yoshinobu Yamamoto from Japan. 

The Yankees are reportedly meeting with Yamamoto on Monday with the Red Sox, Dodgers, Giants and Mets also in the running. 

The Yankees finished with a 82-80 record this season and missed the playoffs. However, they look to strengthen their roster around Judge as they hope to win their first title since 2009.