Juan Soto free agency: Slugger plans to explore 'every offer' but says Yankees have no advantage

The New York Yankees' year ended on Wednesday night with a loss in World Series Game 5 to the Los Angeles Dodgers. While the Dodgers celebrated and planned their championship parade, the Yankees had to turn their focus to the future. That means, among other things, accepting the possibility that star outfielder Juan Soto will leave the team this winter free agency.

Soto, who turned 26 last week, will be the top free agent available when the The market opens on Monday. Only one player in Major League Baseball history has accumulated as many Wins Above Replacement as Soto at this point and reached free agency in his mid-20s: former Yankees infielder Alex Rodriguez. Coincidentally, both Soto and Rodriguez are/were represented by super agent Scott Boras.

As expected, Soto's looming free agency was a topic of discussion after Game 5 on Wednesday.

“You never know. At the end of the day, we’ll see where we are,” Soto said when asked about the chance that Game 5 would be his final contest in the pinstripe jersey. “In any case, it was a difficult game for me. But I’m very happy with what we’ve achieved as a team and how far we’ve come.”

As for his alleged preference to stay in New York – a preference that, if true, would suggest he signs with the Yankees or Mets – Soto was reticent.

“I’m really happy with the city, with the team and the performance of these guys,” Soto said. “Ultimately, we will look at every situation and every offer we receive and make a decision from there.”

Every team, he said, has “the same opportunities.”

Soto's bid is expected to top $500 million and potentially go well into the $600 million range.