Ache.
That may be the one phrase to explain the temper following the Yankees’ 7-6 loss to the Dodgers in Sport 5 of the 2024 World Sequence on Wednesday evening at Yankee Stadium.
The Bronx Bombers held a 5-0 lead till a disastrous defensive fifth inning allowed Los Angeles to tie the sport and finally take the lead for good within the high of the eighth inning and profitable the world championship.
Within the coming days and weeks, the Yankees should discover a strategy to put the disappointing efficiency on this yr’s Fall Basic within the rearview mirror and stay up for 2025, with the group’s World Sequence drought prolonged one other yr since its final title in 2009.
The No. 1 factor on Yankees GM Brian Cashman’s to-do listing is easy: discover a strategy to carry again Juan Soto.
It will not be simple as Soto would be the most coveted and sought-after free agent this winter, requiring a group to pay greater than $500 million to signal the 26-year-old celebrity.
In what might be his lone season within the Bronx, Soto was sensational, launching a career-high 41 residence runs and hits (166). He was the Yankees’ most constant hitter throughout the postseason, which included his clutch, go-ahead three-run homer in Sport 5 of the ALCS to ship the Yankees to their first World Sequence look in 15 years.
With free company looming, it is clear that the four-time All-Star will take his time with the monumental resolution of the place he’ll play subsequent. “We will take a look at each state of affairs, each supply that we get and take a choice from that,” Soto informed reporters following the Sport 5 loss on Wednesday evening.
Now that the 2024 season is formally within the books, listed below are the betting odds through Bookies.com for which group Soto will play for subsequent yr:
Yankees, Dodgers and Mets are betting favorites to signal Juan Soto:
New York Yankees: +275
Los Angeles Dodgers: +450
New York Mets: 5/1 (+500)
The Subject: +750
Philadelphia Phillies: 9/1 (+900)
San Diego Padres: 10/1 (+1000)
The oddsmakers clearly see this as a three-horse race between the Yankees, Dodgers and Mets, given these are the groups that might put up probably the most cash for Soto’s providers.
Will the Yankees be capable of re-sign Juan Soto?
It ought to be no shock that the Yankees are the clear favorites right here given the success Soto had in 2024 alone and his budding relationship with Aaron Choose and others. Left with a nasty style in his mouth following the World Sequence loss, the previous batting title champion may wish to end what he began and signal long run in hopes of bringing a number of championships to the Bronx.
What occurs if the Dodgers signal Juan Soto?
What would flip the baseball world the other way up is that if Soto had been to signal with one of many different high two selections.
If he had been to go away and be part of World Sequence MVP Freddie Freeman, Shohei Ohtani and Mookie Betts in Los Angeles, it will trigger absolute chaos across the sports activities panorama. The Dodgers would sport the most effective beginning lineups in current reminiscence with three-former MVPs, with Soto trying to win the primary in his profession.
The state of affairs would examine equally to when Kevin Durant, who was on the Sonics/Thunder for the primary 9 seasons of his NBA profession, joined a loaded Golden State Warriors group in free company in 2016, only a few months after they defeated the Thunder in Sport 7 of the Western Convention Finals the prior postseason.
What if Juan Soto indicators with the NY Mets?
For Yankees followers, there would possibly even be extra hate if Soto determined to move lower than 10 miles southeast to Queens and be part of the Mets.
With the Subway Sequence transferring to 6 video games in 2025, it will make each collection at Citi Subject and Yankee Stadium subsequent summer season must-see TV, with boo birds raining nonstop if Soto determined to decide on the blue and orange over Pinstripes.
When will Juan Soto resolve?
What we do know is that there might be a solution from Soto inside the subsequent week, as MLB free company is formally underway and gamers can signal with new groups on the earliest on Nov. 4 at 5 p.m.