YES Network trio sees path to Yankees redemption in division that is as ‘tight as ever’

As Opening Day draws near, the YES Network trio of Paul O’Neill, David Cone and Michael Kay fielded some Yankees questions from The Post’s Steve Serby.

Q: How will Juan Soto leaving affect Aaron Judge?

O’Neill: It affects everybody. What inning wasn’t fun to watch when Soto and Judge hit back-to-back? I think the Yankees have plugged so many holes by not having Soto’s salary, that overall, they might be a better team. Offensively, probably not. No doubt in my mind he’s going to have a great year for the Mets. I think team-wise, defensive-wise, everything put together, you’re going to be fine.

Cone: It really was that magical. It was as if we were looking at Ruth and Gehrig. The Yankees rode them all the way to the World Series. That World Series in my mind was closer than you think. A lot of it was because of Soto, so with him gone, it’s a huge loss. The only thing they could do is pivot and try to make up for it in a lot of different categories. I don’t think the Yankees are done yet, but I think the pieces they got were very good choices.

Juan Soto and Aaron Judge celebrate during Game 3 of the ALCS in October 2024.

Aaron Judge is pictured during the Yankees’ spring training session on Feb. 25.

Kay: I think maybe a little fewer RBIs, but Judge had a 62-home run season without Soto. I think they both benefitted from each other last year. I think he’s going to have another big year. If anything, he might walk more, but a lot of that is predicated on the guys hitting behind him as well.

Q: What should Yankees fans expect from Judge?

O’Neill: He makes it look so easy. Everybody talks about his size and his power, but what he adds to defense, and his instincts on the bases, he just does everything right. There’s one thing in his mind, and that’s to accumulate some World Series wins to make his career complete.

Q: Who protects him this year?

O’Neill: Aaron Judge has gotten very good at knowing when he’s being pitched around, and being able to take walks and not frustrated to the point where he leaves the strike zone. You’re going to have to have a lineup that people know their roles. If you’re Aaron Judge, your role is to hit 50 home runs and drive in 120. I don’t think that there’s one guy that you can plug in behind Aaron Judge that’s just going to just make a difference day in and day out. You’re going to have to have a team that scores runs day in and day out so you get the ball to the bullpen.