Unbelievably, two months after signing a contract with the Yankees, the elite pitcher is expected to walk away and sign with the Baltimore Orioles over a contentious issue.

Yankees hint Juan Soto-Aaron Judge lineup swap after Orioles series loss

New York might switch things up after their tough series against the Orioles

The New York Yankees are coming off a challenging early-season series against the Baltimore Orioles. The Yankees lost three of four games to Baltimore after some rough offensive stretches. As a result, the team is hinting towards a Juan Soto-Aaron Judge lineup swap for the near future.

When YES Network asked New York manager Aaron Boone if he would consider flipping Soto and Judge in the lineup, he responded, “We’ll see,” per Chris Kirschner.

The duo struggled to get things going the entire series. However, Thursday’s 7-2 loss further brought their challenges to light. Juan Soto amassed just two hits in the game. Meanwhile, Aaron Judge totaled one walk.

Perhaps a lineup change can allow the stars to build more momentum as the Yankees gear up for a three-game Detroit Tigers series. Soto looks to bounce back strong while getting adjusted to his new team.

Juan Soto joined the Yankees via trade during the offseason after a two-year stint with the San Diego Padres. He batted an average of .275, hit 35 home runs, had 109 RBI, and boasted an OPS of .930 in 2023. The latter two of his stats were ranked top ten in the MLB, per ESPN.

One of the 25-year-old’s best abilities is durability. He comes off a season where he played a career-high 162 games. So far, Soto is putting up serviceable production in 2024. He bats .331, has hit eight home runs, is responsible for 25 RBI, and holds an OPS of 1.029. Surely, Soto will return strong from his Orioles showing alongside Aaron Judge.

Judge has battled a lingering toe issue stemming from the summer of 2023. Yet, the veteran center fielder looks solid in 2024. His batting average is down at .197, but he has hit six home runs to go with 18 RBI and a .725 OPS.

Judge and Soto are vital to New York’s success amid a highly aspirational season.

Yankees are on a mission to avenge their 2023 s

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New York finished the 2023 season with an 82-80 record. Thus, they missed the MLB Playoffs for the first time since 2016. Nevertheless, the Yankees look strong in 2024 outside of their challenging Orioles series.