"Aaron Judge was the best batter, but Juan Soto was most valuable" – MLB analyst credits superstar free agent for Yankees' AL East triumph in 2024

Aaron Judge was named the 2024 American League MVP earlier this month, with his teammate Juan Soto finishing third, with the New York Yankees winning the division title as well as the AL pennant.

MLB analyst Zach Bollinger feels that Judge had greater production at the plate during the regular season, but Soto was the more valuable player for the team due to his overall effect on the lineup.

Judge posted one of the best offensive campaigns in MLB history and batted .322/.458/.701 with 58 home runs, 144 RBIs and an OPS+ of 223, besides leading in nearly every hitting category. But it may not have been possible without having Soto right in front of him in the lineup. The lefty slugger hit .288/.419/.569 in the regular season, including 41 homers, 109 RBIs and a 178 OPS+.

Therefore, Zach Bollinger believes that Juan Soto was the more valuable player for the New York Yankees than Aaron Judge. He aired his views on the Ryan Ripken Show on Friday.

"Aaron Judge was the best batter on that team, but Juan Soto was the most valuable," Bollinger said.

"He set up that entire team. He's one of those guys that, simply placing him in a lineup, changes the season of three or four guys around him. Just because of his presence, because you can't pitch around the guy ahead of him. Suddenly, the guy behind him is always hitting with men on base."

Judge and Soto posted a historic regular season campaign for the Yankees in 2024. They were the first duo to post at least 40 home runs, 100 RBIs, and 175 OPS+ since Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig.

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"It benefits so many people in the lineup": Zach Bollinger on the value of Juan Soto

Juan Soto hit a career-high 41 home runs for the Yankees n the regular season (Photo Credit: Imagn)

Juan Soto is the top free agent of this off-season after the New York Yankees were unable to secure him to a contract extension to keep him in the Bronx during the season.

Soto is expected to earn a deal of over $500 million, shattering the record for the largest-ever contract offered to a position player in the MLB.

"He's the type of player that you know the glove isn't there," Zach Bollinger said. "But that bat (is why) you are paying it. It doesn't just benefit him. It benefits so many people around him in the lineup with him just being there. That's why he's getting the money. It's not just his impact (at the plate).

"Now you have to pitch to the guy in front of him; you have to [pitch] the guy behind him is suddenly more valuable because he's got guys on base," he added. "It just helps everything."

There are reportedly five teams vying to acquire the 26-year-old outfielder, with the New York Mets regarded as the favorites to win his race.