Juan Soto's first, and perhaps only, season in pinstripes was everything the Yankees had hoped for…so far.
He had his best performance at the plate all year, and his presence in the lineup helped turn around the Yankees' offense, creating a threat in front of Aaron Judge during Judge's historic season.
All of that will be remembered, but Soto's accomplishments as a Yankee will largely be determined by what happens in October — and the guarantee that Soto, heading into free agency for the first time, will see another accomplishment in the Bronx. There isn't.
Soto said Friday at Yankee Stadium that he had been dealing with free agency issues during the four years he was still in Washington.
“That’s always part of it,” Soto said. “It's always great to be on a winning team.”
Soto said it's not hard to put aside the idea of going public, even though it's getting closer.
“It's over for me,” Soto said. “All talk is over. Now we're talking about the playoffs and winning another championship.”
That's how the rest of the Yankees are handling this situation.
“I'm not thinking about the free agency part,” Aaron Boone said before the Yankees' practice at Stadium on Friday in preparation for Game 1 of the ALDS vs. the Royals on Saturday. “He doesn't think so. He understands that he's here and that he's part of this team and what's at stake and what he has a chance to do. I think he loves what he's doing. He's been to the baseball playoffs and won, so obviously he knows what it takes. .”
Soto won that title in 2019 with the Nationals, when he posted a .927 OPS in 17 postseason games.
He didn't have as much success as the Padre in 2022, posting a .727 OPS in 12 games before San Diego lost in the NLCS.
Soto will be in the spotlight again this month.
He turns 26 in three weeks, but he's already built quite the resume and said Friday he'll be part of the Yankees' all-time history.
“We have to win,” Soto said.
Soto so far has done exactly what the Yankees hoped he would do when he arrived from San Diego in a trade in December.
“I'm enjoying my time here,” Soto said.
“He came exactly as advertised,” general manager Brian Cashman said Thursday. “He was brought in to increase our chances, and he definitely increased our chances.”
Asked about Soto's contract only ending Oct. 1, Gerrit Cole said, “I don't really think about it. I'm just enjoying it, especially while he's there. And he's… I can't go anywhere right now. I'm just living in the moment in that regard.”
Pat Rosler, a longtime hitting coach and current assistant hitting coach for the Yankees, worked with Soto in Washington and expected greatness again from his Bronx student.
“There was never any doubt,” Rosler said recently. “He loves to play when the action is hot. He likes to be the guy with a chance to win.”
And after a season in which Soto hit a career-high 41 home runs and had the highest OPS-plus (178) in a season excluding the COVID-19 shortened 2020, Rosler said Soto's He said he doesn't think things will change much this season. play off.
“We talked about it,” Rosler said of his postseason performance. “He's been able to stay calm and routine and swing at the pitches he wants to swing.”
If there's any cause for concern, it's Soto's left knee. He was injured on September 19 in Seattle when he slid into the wall while making a catch.
He said he's still sensitive but doesn't think it will affect him on the field, other than perhaps sliding.
In eight games after the injury, Soto had just two extra-base hits.
Soto was consistent throughout the year, but his form faltered in the final month of the season.
In 30 games starting August 26, Soto posted a .788 OPS and hit just four home runs during that time.
That impact may be forgotten with one swing of the bat on Saturday.
And whenever this postseason ends, whether it's in the ALDS next week or in November after an appearance in the World Series, Soto will once again be the center of baseball, and Soto and his agent, Scott Boras, will be in charge of the upcoming free agency period. It will come in. month.
Now, Boone says, it's no longer a distraction.
“I don't think he's ever been this proactive,” the coach said. “That's for when the time comes. They'll take care of it. But right now I think he's focused on performing on the big stage in the playoffs.”
