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Juan Soto says the Yankees have no advantage if he heads to free agency

The Yankees’ season is over, which means Juan Soto’s free agency is about to begin.

And if this was it for Soto as a Yankee, it ended ugly as the Yankees suffered one of their worst losses in franchise history in a 7-6, season-ending loss to the Dodgers in Game 5 of the World Series.

When asked if he believed this might be his last home game in The Bronx, Soto said, “You never know. We’ll see where we stand. It’s definitely a tough match to be my last.”


Juan Soto, now headed for free agency, walks to the clubhouse after the Yankees' season-ending 7-6 loss to the Dodgers in Game 5 of the World Series on Oct. 30, 2024.
Juan Soto, now headed for free agency, walks to the clubhouse after the Yankees’ season-ending 7-6 loss to the Dodgers in Game 5 of the World Series on Oct. 30, 2024. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post

That’s the next drama as the 26-year-old star heads to free agency for the first time and he made it clear again Wednesday night that the Yankees have no advantage over any other team pursuing him.

“I feel like every team has the same opportunity,” Soto said. “I don’t want to say that anyone has an advantage.”

He echoed 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 certainly open to listening,” Soto said. “I haven’t closed any doors. I am available for all thirty teams.”

With Scott Boras as his 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 times in a row and scored twice, but with the Yankees trailing by a run in the bottom of the eighth, he led off with a weak grounder to first base as they failed to rally after the Dodgers had taken the lead in the bottom of the eighth. the first of the eighth.

His memorable go-ahead start in the ALCS, which sent the Yankees to the World Series in Cleveland, will not soon be forgotten, but it was not followed by a title.


Juan Soto, who is now a free agent, looks skyward after the Yankees' 7-6 regular-season loss to the Dodgers in Game 5 of the World Series on Oct. 30, 2024.
Juan Soto, who is now a free agent, looks skyward after the Yankees’ 7-6 regular-season loss to the Dodgers in Game 5 of the World Series on Oct. 30, 2024. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post

Soto would certainly welcome a reunion, but it would only come at the expense of his (and agent Scott Boras’) prize.

“I hope he’s here forever,” Aaron Boone said, a sentiment shared by the entire clubhouse. “But I also know that I’m excited for him and what the next few months will be like for him.”

Chants of “Re-sign Soto” rang out from the stadium crowd throughout the year and he often responded to the serenades of the fans in right field.

There were none in the season-ending loss.

Asked if the fans’ reaction could influence him to stay, Soto replied with a grin: “Maybe this will influence the ownership decision.”

Soto only increased his price tag during his season with the Yankees after arriving from San Diego in December.

He followed up a regular season with a career-high 41 home runs and an impressive postseason that ended Wednesday.

It remains to be seen if his days of wearing pinstripes are over.


Follow The Post’s coverage of the Yankees in the postseason:


Soto has never had a problem during his time in New York and has been a favorite from Opening Day until now.

Soto’s Game 5 started with a one-out walk 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, although the Yankees failed to score in either of those innings.

The right fielder walked again to lead off the bottom of the sixth, scoring the go-ahead run on Giancarlo Stanton’s sacrifice fly.

But he couldn’t perform in the eighth after the bullpen regained the lead.