With Aaron Judge batting behind him, Juan Soto has thrived in New York as the Yankees' co-star
The Yankees' Juan Soto is introduced before Game 1 of the ALCS against the Cleveland Guardians on Monday at Yankee Stadium. Credit: AP/Godofredo Vásquez
Juan Soto had an impactful Division Series, reaching base in seven of 18 plate appearances in the Yankees’ four-game victory over Kansas City.
Soto did all the little things that showed up in the box score, but he was mostly overlooked in stories about the four ALDS games.
Soto had four hits (a double and three singles) in 14 at-bats. He walked three times, scored a run and drove in two runs (including one with a sacrifice fly). He threw out a runner at the plate, a key play in the Yankees' Game 1 win.
Soto was a table-setter rather than a big bopper. He also improved to 7-1 in postseason series, his only loss coming with San Diego in the 2022 NLCS against the Phillies.
On Monday, Soto lined a single to center in the first and drove in the game’s first run with a home run to right-center leading off the third against Alex Cobb, against whom Soto at that point was a ridiculous 9-for-13 (.692) with two home runs. It was Soto’s eighth postseason homer of his career.
Soto has been a terrific wingman for Aaron Judge during Soto’s first and what could be his only season with the Yankees. Is that reality — plus $500-$700 million or so — enough to keep Soto in pinstripes for years to come?
Some guys want to be the No. 1 player on a team. As long as he’s upright, that will be Judge with the Yankees. Bryce Harper with the Phillies. Francisco Lindor with the Mets.
Soto doesn’t seem to have that desire. Ask him about his contributions to the 2019 Nationals title, and he’ll talk about how “we always came through — definitely our big stars had big moments, as we all expected. But at the end of the day, it's all about the whole team. We can't lean on one player that he's going to do everything for us to take us all the way. We've got to do it as a team.”
Before Game 1, Soto was asked what he thinks of the Yankees’ chances to win it all.
“I think we have a really good chance,” he said. “We have everything that we need to do it. We have a great team to go out there and try to take it all the way. We feel really confident. Definitely, we know it's not going to be easy. Those guys in the other dugout, they won't make it easy for us. Definitely, we feel comfortable that we can go out there and perform.”
Soto turned 21 on the day of Game 3 of the 2019 World Series. He’s a grizzled veteran of 25 now, who will celebrate his 26th birthday on Oct. 25. The Yankees will either be playing in the World Series or will be home for the winter.
Once the World Series is over, Soto will be free to sign with whatever team he fancies. Hal Steinbrenner has already said he wants Soto to come back and that he was willing to engage during the season.
Soto said, “Nah, I’m good,” and then went out and had a superb walk year.
When Soto is free, you suspect Steve Cohen’s Mets are going to come calling. The Dodgers are always in on the best talent. Soto’s old Nationals team is said to be lurking, hoping for a reunion to cap off a rebuild that seems to be flowering in D.C.
There may well be others. Soto, with Scott Boras as his agent, will listen to them all. Any sentimentality the player may feel about his time in the Bronx will fade away as the calendar turns to winter and it’s time to talk money.
Even if the Yankees win the World Series, and even though Soto has loved and has been loved at Yankee Stadium, you can bet Boras will try to squeeze out every last dollar for this generational talent, just as he did in 2000 when Alex Rodriguez broke what was then the all-time American sports contract record with a $252 million deal with the Texas Rangers.
Can you imagine a world in which a $252 million offer would be laughed at? That’s the world we live in today. Like high-rollers at a Vegas poker game, bidders for Soto will have to ante up a $500 million or so chip to even get a seat at Boras’ table.
Judge, whose contract is for a mere $360 million, had a quiet Division Series, batting .154 with no RBIs. It was heavily scrutinized, each at-bat a referendum on whether Judge was close to snapping out of his continuing postseason funk.
That’s because he is the Yankees captain and one of the faces of baseball. Judge hit 58 home runs this season, which is not a career high because he once hit 62.
Soto hit a career-high 41 home runs. He wasn’t the star, he was the co-star, or maybe just the special guest star if it turns out 2024 was Soto’s only season in pinstripes.
Soto seems to like the bright lights. But maybe he likes it best when they don’t shine brightest on him. Along with the millions, the Yankees can offer Soto that, too.
Anthony Rieber covers baseball, as well as the NFL, NBA and NHL. He has worked at Newsday since Aug. 31, 1998, and has been in his current position since July 5, 2004.
