Juan Soto says Yankees dont have edge as he heads into free agency

sharonorn

The Yankees season is over, so Juan Sotos free agency is set to begin.  And if this was it for Soto as a Yankee, it ended in ugly fashion, as the Yankees suffered one of their worst lo ses in franchise history in in Game 5 of the World Series.  Asked if he considered that this might have been his last home game in The Bronx, Soto said, You never know. Well see where were at. Its definitely a tough game to be my last.  Juan Soto, who is now headed toward free agency, walks to the clubhouse after the Yankees 7-6 season-ending lo s to the Dodgers in Game 5 of the World Series on Oct. 30, 2024.  Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post  Thats the next drama, as the 26-year-old star heads to free agency for the first time and he made clear again Wednesday night that the Yankees dont have any advantage over any other team that pursues him.  I feel every team has the same Garrett Cleavinger Jersey  opportunity, Soto said. I dont want to say anybody has an advantage.  Explore More  Hes repeated the same sentiment throughout his season with the Yankees and a trip to the World Series  the second of his career  didnt change that.  I dont know all the teams that are after me, but Im definitely open to listen, Soto said. I dont have any doors closed. Im available to all 30 teams.  With Scott Boras as his agent, its clear Soto is interested in ending up with the highest bidder, but he also wants to win  something that he did with the Yankees.  In Game 5, Soto reached base four straight times and scored twice, but with the Yankees trailing by a run in the bottom of the eighth, as they failed to rally after the Dodgers took the lead in the top of the eighth.  His memorable go-ahead homer in the ALCS that helped send the Yankees to the World Series in Cleveland wont soon be forgotten, but it wasnt followed by a title.  Juan Soto, who is now a free agent, looks to the sky after the Yankees 7-6 season-ending lo s to the Dodgers in Game 5 of the World Series on Oct. 30, 2024.  Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post  Soto certainly would welcome a reunion, but it will only come at his  and agent Scott Boras  price.  I hope hes here forever, Aaron Boone said, a sentiment shared all over the clubhouse. But I also know Im excited for him and what the next few months are for him.  Throughout the year, there were chants of Re-sign Soto from the Stadium crowd and he often reacted to the fans serenading in right field.  There were none in the season-ending lo s.  Asked if the response of the fans might influence him to stick around, Soto said with a grin, Maybe it will impact the decision of ownership.  Soto has only driven up his price tag during his season with the Yankees after arriving in a December trade from San Diego.  He followed up a regular season that included a career-high 41 homers with an impre sive postseason that came to an end Wednesday.  It remains to be seen if his days of wearing pinstripes are over.  Follow The Posts coverage of the Yankees in the postseason:  Soto has never had an i sue fitting in while in New York and has been a favorite from Opening Day until now.  Sotos Game 5 started with a walk with one out in the bottom of the first, setting up Aaron Judges lone 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, although 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 Stantons sacrifice fly.  But he wasnt able to deliver in the eighth after the bullpen had given the lead up again.  Tampa Bay Rays Jersey
Click here