The New York Yankees’ year ended Wednesday evening with a loss in World Series Game 5 against the Los Angeles Dodgers. While the Dodgers continued celebrating and planning their championship parade, the Yankees had to shift their focus to the future. This means, among other things, that we accept the possibility that star outfielder Juan Soto will leave the team this winter free agency.
Soto, who turned 26 last week, will be the top free agent available when the market opens on Monday. Only one player in Major League Baseball history currently has as many Wins Above Replacement as Soto and reached free agency in his mid-20s: former Yankees infielder Alex Rodriguez. Coincidentally, both Soto and Rodriguez are/were represented by super agent Scott Boras.
Predictably, Soto’s looming free agency was a topic of discussion after Game 5 on Wednesday.
“You never know. In the end we’ll see where we stand,” Soto said when asked about the likelihood of Game 5 being his last game in pinstripes. “Definitely a tough match to be my last. But I’m very happy with what we achieved as a team and how far we’ve come.”
As for his rumored preference to remain in New York — a preference that, if true, would suggest he will sign with the Yankees or Mets — Soto played coy.
“I’m very happy with the city, with the team, with how these guys are doing,” Soto said. “Ultimately, we will look at every situation and every offer we receive and make the decision from there.”
Every team, he said, has “the same opportunities.”
Soto’s offer is expected to be more than $500 million and possibly well in the neighborhood of $600 million.