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Juan Soto — a free agent after 2024 — may well become Aaron Judge’s long-term bash brother in the Bronx. For the upcoming season, the pair will be in the heart of the Yankees’ lineup, and that should strike fear into the hearts of opposing pitchers.
However, it takes more than two great hitters to make a great lineup. The Angels during the Mike Trout-Shohei Ohtani Era are a prime example of this. Plus, the Yankees still have many question marks outside of their newly formed super-pair.
That said, having two hitters that good makes a big difference.
With the long-rumored Soto trade finally official, let’s take a snapshot look at the most dynamic lineup duos in the game heading into 2024, focusing only on offensive might and setting aside defense. (Speaking of Ohtani: Yes, his eventual signing could upend this list, so consider it subject to change.)
The next few duos on this list each could make a convincing argument for the top spot. But ultimately, it’s hard to pick against this brand new pairing. Judge put together one of the best offensive seasons in baseball history in 2022, and while a freak injury limited him to 106 games in ‘23, he was spectacular again when on the field. Then there’s Soto. While Yankee Stadium may not help him as much as you think, he also doesn’t need the help. He’s already on a path toward being one of the best hitters of all time. Only 44 hitters have even managed to collect 3,000-plus plate appearances through their age-24 season, and Soto’s 157 OPS+ ranks fifth in that group behind three inner-circle Hall of Famers (Ty Cobb, Mickey Mantle and Jimmie Foxx) and Trout.
Last season, manager Dave Roberts stacked Betts and Freeman 1-2 in his lineup nearly every day and was rewarded with a combined .319/.409/.572 line in more than 1,400 plate appearances, to go along with 68 homers, 209 RBIs, 37 steals and 257 runs scored. Simply put, this was one of the most productive duos we’ve ever seen, especially at the top of a lineup. Now imagine if Ohtani were to join them …
If you’d prefer to flip these two with Betts and Freeman, we wouldn’t argue. You can’t go wrong either way after a season in which those four players made up the top four finishers in the NL MVP Award race. Acuña enjoyed one of the most dynamic seasons in baseball history, including his unprecedented combo of 41 homers and 73 steals, taking advantage of MLB’s new rules that aided the running game. And Olson finally won the home run title that he had long seemed destined for, launching a Braves-record 54 long balls.
It’s hard not to include Jose Altuve here given his 157 OPS+ over the past two seasons,