Juan Soto says the Yankees have no edge as he heads into free agency
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 suffered one of their worst losses in franchise history, a 7-6, season-ending loss to the Dodgers in Game 5 of the World Series.
Asked if he thinks this could be his last home game in the Bronx, Soto said, “You never know. We'll see where we're at. It's definitely tough to be my last game.”
It's the next play, as the 26-year-old star heads into free agency for the first time, and he made it clear again Wednesday night that the Yankees have no advantage over any other team that pursues him.
“I think every team has the same opportunity,” Soto said. “I don't want to say anyone has an advantage.”
He repeated the 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 open to listening,” Soto said. “I have no closed doors. I am available for all 30 teams.”
With Scott Boras as his agent, it's clear that Soto is interested in finishing with the highest bidder, but he also wants to win — something he did with the Yankees.
In Game 5, Soto reached base four straight times and scored twice, but with the Yankees down by one run in the bottom of the eighth, he led off the first with a weak grounder as the Dodgers failed to rally after taking the lead. Top of the eighth.
His memorable go-ahead homer in the ALCS that helped send the Yankees to the World Series in Cleveland won't soon be forgotten, but it wasn't followed by a title.
Soto would certainly welcome a reunion, but it would only come at a cost to him — and agent Scott Boras.
“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 have in store for him.”
Throughout the year, there were chants of “Re-sign Soto” from the stadium crowd, and he often responded to serenading fans in right field.
There was no one to lose in the season finale.
Asked if the fan reaction might influence him to stick around, Soto said with a smile, “Maybe it will influence the ownership's decision.”
Soto only increased his price 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 ends Wednesday.
It remains to be seen if his days wearing pinstripes are over.
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Soto's has never had a fitting problem while in New York and has been a favorite since opening day.
Soto's Game 5 began with a walk with one out in the bottom of the first, setting up Aaron Judge's only homer of the series, a two-run shot.
He walked again in the second and singled through the right side of the infield in the fourth, though the Yankees failed to score in either of those innings.
The right fielder drew another walk to lead off the bottom of the sixth and scored the go-ahead run on Giancarlo Stanton's sacrifice fly.
But he was unable to deliver the eighth after the bullpen gave the lead up again.