NEW YORK — New York Yankees ace Gerrit Cole was sitting before a room filled with reporters and TV cameras a day before he was set to start Game 1 of the American League Division Series versus the Kansas City Royals. He had just been asked something he had never thought about before.
Is there extra pressure to win a World Series this year since there’s no guarantee that star right fielder Juan Soto won’t leave via free agency in the winter?
Cole paused for a moment.
“I’ve just been kind of enjoying it, especially while we have him,” he said. “And he can’t go anywhere right now.”
It wasn’t the only time Soto’s future was brought up just hours before the Yankees’ biggest game of the season. The impending sweepstakes for his services, which could top $500 million, has been a hot topic.
Manager Aaron Boone talked about it. Soto discussed it. Center fielder Aaron Judge reflected on what it’s been like hitting behind the Dominican Republic-born slugger for an entire regular season.
“Oh,” Judge said, “it’s been a treat.”
Soto, who will be 26 next season, just finished perhaps the most productive regular season of his career — and at the perfect time.
In 157 games, he hit a career-high 41 home runs while leading the league in runs scored (128), batting .288 and driving in 109 runs. His .988 OPS was third best in the majors behind Judge and the Los Angeles Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani, the presumptive favorites for the AL and National League MVPs.
The Yankees will be among the many teams battling to give Soto a contract that could set a record for a position player. Last week, The Athletic exclusively reported that Soto met privately with owner Hal Steinbrenner in July and that the pair discussed how Soto has enjoyed his time in the Bronx and what, if anything, could be made better from a player’s point of view. The Athletic’s Tim Britton recently projected that Soto could net a deal worth $560 million.
“I think he’s loving being here,” Boone said, “and being part of this team and knowing what’s at stake and what he has an opportunity to do.”
Really? Why does Soto love being part of the Yankees?
“I just interact with him every day on some level,” the manager said. “And to me, it seems like he’s enjoyed his time here.
“I’d probably enjoy my time, too, if I walked out with that skill set every day. Watching him interact with his teammates and just watch his ease with which he moves through the room. And in my view, the (comfort) he has in our room, that’s what tells me that.”
A taste of #postseason in The Bronx for Juan Soto, narrated by Nick Swisher 🗽 pic.twitter.com/Un68g8dMji
— MLB (@MLB) October 4, 2024
Soto was asked if Boone’s assessment was correct. He didn’t say no.
“I’ve been enjoying my time here,” Soto said. “It’s always great to be on a winning team. I will say that. It’s always fun to be on a winning team with a winning group. That’s the only thing we want to hear, is win. I think that’s what every player is looking forward to being their whole life, their whole career. Just to be part of a winning team.”
Soto added that he’s not thinking about his free agency even though it’s just a month away.
“Right now,” he said, “we’re focused on the playoffs. We’ve been talking about trying to get another championship to do our best together.”
Judge said his biggest takeaway from playing with Soto has been how much he’s helped him at the plate. Judge said Soto routinely sees lots of pitches and opponents throw their best stuff at him. It all gives Judge a peek into how that pitcher might attack him when it’s his turn at the plate.
“He’s just the ultimate team player,” Judge said, “ultimate guy you want up there at the top of your lineup. Looking forward to hitting behind him for a while in this postseason.”
Boone recalled his first conversation with Soto as a member of the Yankees.
It was soon after the team had acquired him from the San Diego Padres in December. Boone called Soto from his house in the hallway outside of his bedroom. Since then, Boone said, Soto has only ingratiated himself further with the Yankees.
“I grew an appreciation for his love of the game that you can tell he has, and obviously, he’s just been a really good teammate and person in our (clubhouse),” Boone said. “He obviously came in here with a ton of attention and all the attention that goes with him being a free agent at the end of the year, and you’ve never felt that. It’s been about being part of this team, and he’s fit in perfectly. It’s been a lot of fun to get to know him and to see how much he cares about his craft.”
Will Boone and the Yankees get a chance to know Soto beyond this season? Even before the Yankees’ most important game, it was a question that loomed as large as it had all year.
(Photo: Luke Hales / Getty Images)