Juan Soto knew it was over. Everyone on his team knew it. Still, he was the last to leave the dugout. Soto was sitting and watching their opposing team take the trophy he had desired to carry home. With his impending free agency, it’s a question mark of whether he will win, or at least play in the World Series in pinstripes again.  

Following the Yankees’ defeat by the Dodgers in Game 5 of the World Series, Juan Soto’s season ended abruptly. He was sitting by himself in the Yankee Stadium dugout, and you could see the despair on his face. It was simply not meant to be, despite the team’s best efforts to rally, particularly following their triumph in Game 4. 

Juan Soto has a moment to himself amidst the loss  

Juan Soto, who won the World Series in 2019 with the Washington Nationals, had come to the Yankees hoping to add another championship. After the Dodgers burst in celebration, Soto was still seated on the dugout bench when the majority of the Yankees’ players headed back to the locker room. You could sense the despair on the Yankees outfielder’s face as he stared at the Dodgers’ celebration happening on the field. 

Juan Soto was thrilled about the chance to make a long postseason run after being traded from the Padres earlier this season. The Dodgers, however, had other ideas. The Dodgers pulled off an amazing comeback after the Yankees went out to a 5-0 lead in Game 5. They won the match 7–6.

For Soto and the crew, it destroyed their hopes of winning a World Series after a 15-year wait. Now that the postseason is over, will the Dominican baseball player stay with the Yanks or go for other teams?

Will Soto wear the pinstripes again next year? 

The Yankees are at a turning point. Juan Soto is set to become a free agent at the end of the 2024 season and everyone believes the 26-year-old will be the most sought-after free agent available. For New York, how much they’re prepared to spend to retain their left fielder in pinstripes is the key question. If you are searching for a benchmark, you do not have to go far.

The Dodgers’ huge contract with Shohei Ohtani is all the Yanks need to consider. The Ohtani deal established a new benchmark in Major League Baseball. When you consider the numbers that Soto is displaying, that large amount does somewhat make sense. It’s difficult to tell, though, how much the crew is prepared to spend on their #22. But exactly $700? It doesn’t seem likely.

The team loves Juan Soto though. They will try everything to keep the Dominican player long-term. Negotiations for an extension won’t start until the end of the season, according to Soto’s agent Scott Boras. And now that it is over, the squad will need to carefully consider their alternatives, too. We hope the Yankees‘ offer to Juan Soto won’t be as dismal as his World Series experience.