What Just Happened...

A little over a month after missing the World Series by one game, the New York Yankees have gone out and traded for Giancarlo Stanton, the 2017 National League MVP. As an Astros fan, still basking in the glow of Houston's first ever World Series title, all I can do is stupidly blurt out: WHAT'S GOING ON HERE!?!?!?

It's not just that the Yankees got Stanton, he of the 59-homer 2017 campaign, to partner up with The Judge, he of the 52-homer 2017 campaign, it's that they got him for practically NOTHING. In exchange for Stanton, the Marlins will take home All-Star infielder Starlin Castro who hit .300 in 2017 while playing mostly second base, but batted just .220 (11/50) with no homers, one run batted in, and fourteen strikeouts in the 2017 playoffs. Presumably Castro will take over at second base in Miami now that Dee Gordon has been traded to Seattle. In addition to Castro, the Marlins will also net two prospects, neither one named Gleyber Torres. Instead Miami will acquire hard throwing right-handed pitcher Jorge Guzman, one of the guys the Astros traded to get Brian McCann last winter, and 18 year-old shortstop Jose Devers, who batted .245 in Rookie Ball in 2017. And that's it. That's it??? ARE YOU KIDDING ME???

New York now enters 2018 with a lineup that includes Stanton (led NL in homers in 2017), Judge (led AL in homers in 2017), AND Gary Sanchez (33 homers in 2017) to go along with Brett Gardner (LF), Didi Gregorius (SS), Greg Bird (1B), and Aaron Hicks (CF). AND, as it stands right now, they're in a prime position to snag Manny Machado, who would fill one of their biggest needs at third base, in 2019, AND they have the option to man second base with uber-prospect Torres. Oh, and they have an awesome bullpen. Oh, and their starting rotation isn't half bad either. Yes folks, the Yankees are the Yankees again. The Evil Empire. The team we can all root against. The question is, can they be beaten?

Maybe? For you Yankee-haters out there, you can take comfort in the following:

Aaron Judge, monster that he is, only batted .188 (9/48) during the 2017 postseason with 27 strikeouts.

Giancarlo Stanton, despite all of his 2017 accolades, batted just .240 in 2016, and in his seven previous seasons (2010-2016), never eclipsed 40 homers, never scored 100 runs, and only drove in 100 once.

Gary Sanchez hit just .208 (11/53) with one walk and 19 strikeouts during the 2017 postseason.

So you're saying there's a chance...

This group of Bronx Bombers might not be infallible, but it's definitely enough to put the rest of the league on notice that the Yankees intend to win it in '18.

Thanks Yankees, you couldn't even let me enjoy this victory until the New Year! COME ON!