If this was it for Juan Soto as a Yankee, it ended in ugly fashion.
Sure, the free agent-to-be reached base four straight times and scored twice in Game 5 of the World Series against the Dodgers on Wednesday.
But with the Yankees trailing by a run in the bottom of the eighth, Soto led off with a weak grounder to first as part of one of the worst losses in franchise history, a 7-6 defeat to end the season.
His memorable go-ahead homer in the ALCS that helped send the Yankees to the World Series in Cleveland won’t soon be forgotten, but the 26-year-old is now set to hit the open market for the first time.
While Soto would certainly welcome a reunion, it will only come at his — and agent Scott Boras’ — price.
And the superstar has said repeatedly throughout the season that he has enjoyed his time in The Bronx, but he will entertain all offers once he hits the open market.
Soto’s night started with a walk with one out in the bottom of the first, setting up Aaron Judge’s first homer of the series, a two-run shot.
He walked again in the second and singled through the right side of the infield in the fourth, although
the Yankees failed to score in either of those innings.
The right fielder drew another walk to lead off the bottom of the sixth and scored the go-ahead run on Giancarlo Stanton’s sacrifice fly.
But he wasn’t able to deliver in the eighth after the defense and bullpen had helped Gerrit Cole give up a five-run lead.
Soto has only driven up his price tag during his season with the Yankees after arriving in a December trade from San Diego. He’s followed up a regular season that included a career-high 41 homers with an impressive postseason that came to an end Wednesday.
It remains to be seen if his days of wearing pinstripes are over.
Throughout the year, there were chants of “Re-sign Soto” from the Stadium crowd and he often reacted to the fans serenading him in right field.
There was none of that in the season-ending loss.
Soto has never had an issue fitting in while in New York and has been a favorite from Opening Day until now — and he’s entertained the crowd.
“It’s a combination of the battle that ensues, but [with] a theatrical element to it, too,’’ Aaron Boone said before the game. “You don’t want to miss his ABs. I can’t tell you how many at-bats there were this year [were] 0-2 and you’re just like, all right, this is — four or five more pitches and then going to end with something good.”
Boone described it this way: “He’s just so good at his craft. Then his flair for the dramatic and meeting the moment. I’ll go back to spring training, too: First game, all eyes on Juan Soto. What’s this going to look like? It’s just a spring training game, but it was a big deal. Boom, homer right away. OK … Go to Houston, Opening Day, boom, big hit after big hit, big throw out at the plate.”
And Boone also pointed to the three-run shot Soto hit against the Guardians.
“He’s had so many ‘here’s the big spot’ moments throughout the year, obviously in Cleveland in the clincher,’’ Boone said. “He definitely has that flair for the dramatic. He has a lot of confidence in those situations because obviously he’s really good, but his work and his process and his discipline is outstanding.’’
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