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Yankees teammates make MLB free agency pitch for Juan Soto
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Yankees teammates make MLB free agency pitch for Juan Soto

Juan Soto’s teammates want him back in pinstripes.

With the 2024 season officially over and Soto just days away from becoming a free agent, several of Soto’s fellow Yankees made their pitch for him to remain in The Bronx.

“I didn’t really think about it. I am proud of the year Juanny has had. It was a pleasure to work with him every day. Just the work he puts in behind the scenes, even when the guy was hitting .320,” Yankees captain Aaron Judge said Wednesday night.

“I saw him working late after games. If he had an 0-fer, he showed up early for work. Whatever he decides, whatever he and his family decide, he’s praying about it, he’s going to make the right decision for him and his family. We were absolutely lucky to have him and it would be great to continue playing with him because he is definitely a special player.”

Did Juan Soto play his last game in pinstripes on Wednesday? Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post

One of the biggest stories of the Yankees’ 2024 season centered on whether Soto would be one-and-done with the team or if this would be the first year in a long-term partnership.

The Yankees acquired Soto knowing he might only be here for a year, though in theory it could reduce the chances of him staying here if he likes his situation.

Soto fit in seamlessly, hitting a career-high 41 home runs and driving in 109 runs with a .989 OPS.

His postseason included the ALCS-clinching three-run homer in Game 5 against the Guardians, and he slashed .327/.469/.633 over the three rounds.

Aaron Judge and Juan Soto. James Lang-Imagn images

Those are the kind of numbers that should ensure Soto is richly rewarded for his free will.

“I’ve never been in (free agency), so the advice would be to stay with us,” Yankees slugger Giancarlo Stanton said.


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Soto didn’t reveal much about his plans after Wednesday’s 7-6 loss to the Dodgers in Game 5, other than that he would listen to all 30 teams.

So yeah, the White Sox apparently have a shot at landing him.

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

The reality is that, as the legendary Wu-Tang Clan once rhymed in their iconic hit “CREAM,” cash rules everything around me.

Soto is the belle of the ball and should have hundreds of millions coming his way, whether it be from the Yankees’ Hal Steinbrenner, the Mets’ Steve Cohen or even the Dodgers’ entrenched ownership group.

Will Soto and Giancarlo Stanton celebrate more home runs together? AP

Judge, Stanton and other Yankees can only hope that Steinbrenner will follow his father’s example and simply not come out on top in the bidding war.

“I hope he’s going to be here forever,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. “But I also know that I’m excited for him and what the next few months will be like for him.”