MLB insider blames Juan Soto and Gleyber Torres for World Series Game 1 loss courtesy of Freddie Freeman's walk-off home run against Nestor Cortes Jr.

The New York Yankees' dream of a first World Series title in almost 25 years was ended by the Los Angeles Dodgers over five games in the Fall Classic in October last year.

The Bronx Bombers were expected to strengthen in the offseason after their World Series loss. However, the Yankees suffered a blow after they failed to re-sign Juan Soto, who signed for cross-town rivals New York Mets for a record-breaking $765 million deal.

While the Yankees have pivoted with the signings of Max Fried, Cody Bellinger, Devin Williams, and Paul Goldschmidt after the failed pursuit of Soto, analysts remain divided on the team's offseason.

Discussing the Yankees' singings in the offseason and whether the team is better without Soto and Gleyber Torres, MLB insider Andy Martino recalled New York's defensive woes in the World Series, blaming Soto and Torres for the Game 1 loss.

He said in a discussion with analyst Sal Licata and Anthony McCarron on SNY:

"Nestor Cortes, who's now gone, was in the position to throw that pitch to Freddie Freeman in Game 1 was because Juan Soto couldn't get to a ball because he's not fast enough, Because Gleyber Torres couldn't cover second properly because he's not fundamentally sound enough and those guys are gone. So, there we win."

For the uninitiated, the defensive lapses from Soto and Torres loaded the bases for Freddie Freeman in the ninth inning and the Dodgers first baseman made them pay with a historic walk-off grandslam to go 1-0 in the Fall Classic.

Alex Bregman's signing would complete the offseason for Yankees, per analyst

While Andy Martino is happy with the signings the Yankees have made in the offseason despite missing out on Juan Soto, Sal Licata argued they have not done enough.

However, Licata added that his opinion on the Yankees' offseason would be complete if they were able to land coveted free-agent third baseman Alex Bregman as a potential upgrade to Gleyber Torres in the infield.

"Alex Bregman, to me, would complete the offseason. Good defensive guy, solid bat," Licata said.

But Martino opined the Yankees are not going to sign Bregman, who has been heavily linked with a move to the Detroit Tigers after stalled negotiations with his former team, Houston Astros.