The Yankees' season is over, so Juan Soto's free agency is about to begin.
And if that was it for Soto as a Yankee, it ended in ugly fashion, as the Yankees fell to the Dodgers in Game 5 of the World Series in a 7–6, season-ending loss, one of their worst losses in franchise history. Had to face one.
Asked if he thought this might be his last home game in The Bronx, Soto said, “You never know. We'll see where we are. This is definitely my last tough game.”
That's the next drama as the 26-year-old star heads into free agency for the first time and he made it clear again on Wednesday night that the Yankees have no advantage over any other team pursuing him.
“I think every team has an equal opportunity,” Soto said. “I don't want to say anyone has an advantage.”
He repeated that same sentiment throughout his season with the Yankees, and a trip to the World Series – the second of his career – didn't change that.
“I don't know all the teams that are after me, but I'm definitely willing to listen,” Soto said. “I don't have any closed doors. I am available for all 30 teams.”
As Scott Boras' agent, it's clear that Soto is interested in ending up with the highest bidder, but he also wants to win – something he did with the Yankees.
In Game 5, Soto reached base four consecutive times and scored twice, but with the Yankees trailing by one run in the bottom of the eighth, he led off with a weak grounder to first as the Dodgers rallied after taking the lead. Failed to do. Top of the eighth.
His memorable homer in the ALCS that helped send the Yankees to the World Series in Cleveland will not soon be forgotten, but no title followed.
Soto would certainly welcome the reunion, but it would only be at his – and agent Scott Boras' – expense.
“I hope he's here forever,” Aaron Boone said, a sentiment shared throughout the clubhouse. “But I also know that I'm excited for him and what the next few months hold for him.”
Throughout the year, there were chants of “Re-Sign Sotto” from the stadium crowd and he often responded by serenading fans in right field.
There were no defeats at the end of the season.
Asked if the fans' reaction might influence them to stay, Soto smiled and said, “Maybe it will influence the ownership's decision.”
Soto has only seen his price tag increase during his season with the Yankees after arriving in a December trade from San Diego.
He followed a regular season that included a career-high 41 homers with an impressive postseason that ended on Wednesday.
It remains to be seen whether his days of wearing pinstripes are over.
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Soto has never had any problems during his time in New York and has been a favorite since Opening Day.
Soto's Game 5 began with one out in the bottom of the first, giving up Aaron Judge's only homer of the series, a two-run shot.
He walked again in the second and had a single to the right side of the infield in the fourth, although the Yankees failed to score in either of these innings.
The right fielder took another walk to lead off the bottom of the sixth and scored the go-ahead run on Giancarlo Stanton's sacrifice fly.
But he didn't fare well after the bullpen regained the lead in the eighth.