Yankees legend Johnny Damon thinks the team is better without Juan Soto.
Former Yankees outfielder Johnny Damon knows what it takes to win a World Series — or two. He thinks the Yankees, coming off the loss in the World Series to the Los Angeles Dodgers and the loss of slugger Juan Soto, are an even better team in 2025.
He told DJ Siddiqi of Sportscasting.com why he is so optimistic — even though he picked the Dodgers to repeat as World Series champions in 2025.
”I do think the Yankees have a better chance to win the World Series this year,” says Damon. ”It’s always tough to win. I was fortunate to win two times in my career, but you get to the postseason, pitchers get hot, players get hot, and sometimes the best team doesn’t win. At the end of the day, it’s your team pulling in the same direction. It’s your team getting the job done.”
While the Dodgers added Blake Snell, Roki Sasaki, and Tanner Scott and brought back Teoscar Hernandez this winter, Damon still said that he feels the Yankees have had the best offseason so far.
”I would say the Yankees,” says Damon when asked which MLB team had the best offseason. “Even losing one of the greatest players of all time, what they added was depth. I think they’re not done yet. The Yankees have more money to still go out and sign some key players. I do think the Yankees improved the most.”
Damon, who won a World Series with the Boston Red Sox and the Yankees, likes how the Yankees pivoted after losing Soto in free agency. After the outfield slugger bolted to the New York Mets on a $765 million, 15-year deal, the Yankees signed left-handed starter Max Fried and traded for closer Devin Williams. They acquired former National League MVP Cody Bellinger and signed another NL MVP, Paul Goldschmidt.
Damon understands that Soto is a special player but still feels the Yankees will be fine without him.
“He’s an amazing player,” Damon said in an interview to promote hydration drink company, A-Game. “When the Yankees couldn’t get Juan Soto they were able to go out and get a number of All-Stars where the team may actually be better now. You have more quality players around. Juan Soto is going to win you so many games, but all these other players, you need them to help out for 162 games. I think the Yankees are in a really good spot.”