The New York Yankees’ season came to a painful conclusion, plagued by costly mistakes that crushed their championship hopes and left them focused on the uncertain pursuit of Juan Soto. In a heartbreaking World Series Game 5, they fell to the Los Angeles Dodgers, 7-6, after surrendering a five-run lead. Soto, watching from the dugout as the Dodgers celebrated, lingered alone after the game, marking what could be his final moments in a Yankees uniform.
After the loss, Soto took a moment near first base, pointed skyward, and joined his teammates in the clubhouse, possibly for the last time as a Yankee.
“I’d love to see him stay with us for a long time,” said Yankees captain Aaron Judge, while manager Aaron Boone added, “I hope he’s here forever.” With Soto only 26 years old and his contract value projected to surpass $500 million, he’s within reach for only a select few teams—including the Yankees, Mets, Dodgers, and potentially the Blue Jays, Giants, Padres, Phillies, and Red Sox.
“Everyone wants to be on a team that wins,” Soto remarked, though he remained tight-lipped about his future. “I’m open to all 30 teams. No one has an edge; it’ll come down to what each team offers and how committed they are to bringing me in.”
Despite a successful 94-68 season that secured them the AL East title after missing the 2023 playoffs, the Yankees’ bid for a championship ended against the Dodgers, extending their World Series drought to 15 years. Game 5, which should have been their chance to push the series, unraveled due to uncharacteristic errors: a dropped fly ball by Judge, a wild throw by shortstop Anthony Volpe, and other critical lapses. Boone, visibly shaken by the outcome, kept the clubhouse closed to the media while the team processed the loss.
“This one will hurt for a long time,” Boone admitted. Thinking back on his own difficult moments, he recalled the Yankees’ Game 6 loss in the 2003 World Series against the Marlins, describing it as one of his most difficult memories.
With the offseason approaching, the Yankees are facing pivotal decisions. Boone’s future with the team remains uncertain, though he has a 2025 option, and key players like Gleyber Torres, Clay Holmes, and Alex Verdugo are set to enter free agency. The Yankees may also let Anthony Rizzo go, while Gerrit Cole’s future could hinge on his opt-out clause. Additionally, the team has issues at the bottom of the batting order and injury concerns with veteran DJ LeMahieu.
There is hope in some emerging talent, like Jasson Domínguez, who could help plug holes in the lineup, though he’ll need time to adjust. Judge, who is expected to secure his second AL MVP after a 58-home-run season, reflected on how Yankees legends like Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera had a unique presence thanks to their championships. “There’s something different about players with rings,” he said.
Giancarlo Stanton expressed his wish that this disappointment will drive the team to come back stronger next season. “We’ve got to elevate our game in every way,” he emphasized, vowing to learn from this season’s hard lessons.
