2013 New York Yankees Recap: Alfonso Soriano

Sep 10, 2013; Baltimore, MD, USA; NNew York Yankees left fielder

(12) hits the go-ahead two run home run in the eighth inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. The Yankees won 7-5. Mandatory Credit: Joy R. Absalon-USA TODAY Sports

One of the biggest in season deals of 2013 across baseball was the deal the New York Yankees swung with the Chicago Cubs on July 26, sending minor-league pitcher Corey Black to the Chicago Cubs for former Yankee Alfonso Soriano. The Yankees were desperate for power, especially from the right side, and Soriano became as important as any Yankee the final two months. He was one of the key reasons the Yankees remained in contention for a Wild Card birth until the last week of the season. Soriano became the fifth player ever to drive in 50 runs for two different teams in one season. Let’s relive Alfonso Soriano’s 2013 regular season.

2013 Stats (combined with Yankees and Cubs): .255/.302/.489, 34 home runs, 101 RBI, 18 stolen bases, 2.4 WAR. In just 58 games with the Yankees, he hit .256 with 17 home runs and 51 RBI.

2013 Game Of The Year: Instead of just one game, I’m going to pick his series against the Los Angeles Angels from Aug 12-15. In that series, he went 10-16, with four home runs and 14 RBI, as the Yankees took three of four games in that series. Those are the kind of hot streaks that Soriano can put together.

2014 Outlook: Soriano will be the starting left fielder. He will be 38 years old in January, so you do have to wonder how many days a week he can play out there. This is the final year of the contract he signed back in 2007. The Cubs will be paying $13 of the $18 million he is owed in 2014.  Look for him to hit anywhere from 2-6 in the Yankee lineup next year.