This is The Athletic’s daily MLB newsletter. Sign up here to receive The Windup directly in your inbox. For the 12th time — but the first time since 1981 — the Yankees and Dodgers are facing off in the World Series.

CLEVELAND—The New York Yankees traded for Juan Soto for one reason: to bring them their first championship since 2009, a drought long enough to qualify as an emergency in the Bronx.They were so certain that Soto was the missing piece that they were willing to part with five players in exchange for just one guaranteed season with him in their outfield.