Juan Soto’s first — and perhaps only — season in pinstripes has been all the Yankees could have asked for… so far.
He has had his best full year at the plate and his presence in the lineup helped turn around a Yankees offense and provided a threat in front of Aaron Judge during Judge’s historic season.
All that will be remembered, but Soto’s legacy as a Yankee will be defined significantly by what happens in October — and there’s no guarantee Soto will see another one in The Bronx as he heads toward free agency for the first time.
Soto said Friday at Yankee Stadium he has been dealing with free agency questions for four years, when he was still in Washington.
“It’s always part of it,’’ Soto said. “It’s always great to be on a winning team.”
Soto said it hasn’t been difficult to put the thoughts of hitting the open market aside, even though it’s getting closer.
“For me, it’s over,” Soto said. “All the talk is over and now it’s about the playoffs and trying to get another championship.”
That’s how the rest of the Yankees are dealing with the situation.
“I’m not thinking of the free agency part of it,” Aaron Boone said before the Yankees workout at the Stadium Friday in preparation for Saturday’s Game 1 of the ALDS against the Royals. “I don’t think he is. I think he is loving being here and being part of this team and knowing what’s at stake and what he has an opportunity to do. He’s been in playoff baseball before and won a championship, so he obviously knows what it takes. I think that’s where his mind is.”
That title came in 2019 with the Nationals, when Soto had a .927 OPS over 17 postseason games.
He wasn’t as successful in 2022 as a Padre, with a .727 OPS in 12 games before San Diego lost in the NLCS.
The spotlight will be on Soto again this month.
He will turn 26 in three weeks and already has built a sizable resume and spoke Friday of becoming a part of Yankee all-time history.
“I’ve got to make sure we win it,’’ Soto said.
So far, Soto has done what the Yankees hoped when he arrived from San Diego in a trade in December.
“I’m enjoying my time here,’’ Soto said.
“He came as advertised,’’ general manager Brian Cashman said Thursday. “He was brought in to improve our chances and he’s certainly improved our chances, without a doubt.”
Gerrit Cole was asked about only being guaranteed one October with Soto and said, “I haven’t really thought about it. I’ve just been enjoying it — especially while we have him. And he can’t go anywhere right now. I’m just living in the moment in that regard.”
Longtime hitting coach Pat Roessler, now an assistant hitting coach with the Yankees, worked with Soto in Washington and expected greatness again from his student in The Bronx.
“I had no doubt,” Roessler said recently. “He loves playing when the action is hot. He likes being the guy with a chance to win.”
And after a season in which Soto set a career-high with 41 homers and had his highest OPS-plus (178) of any season outside of the COVID-shortened 2020, Roessler said he doesn’t think much will change for Soto in the playoffs.
“We’ve talked about it,’’ Roessler said of performing in the postseason. “He’s able to keep his composure and routine and to swing at the pitches he wants to swing at.”
If there’s any cause for concern, it’s Soto’s left knee, which he injured when he slid into a wall in Seattle making a catch on Sept. 19.
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He said it was still sensitive, but didn’t think it would impact him on the field, other than perhaps in sliding.
In eight games after the injury, Soto had just a pair of extra-base hits.
Though Soto was consistent throughout the year, he cooled off during the final month of the season.
In 30 games since Aug. 26, Soto had an OPS of .788, with just four homers in that stretch.
That blip could be forgotten with one swing of the bat on Saturday.
And whenever this postseason run ends, whether it’s next week in the ALDS or in November following a World Series appearance, it will be followed by Soto again being the center of the baseball world, as he and agent Scott Boras begin his free agency period next month.
That won’t be a distraction now, according to Boone.
“I don’t think he ever gets ahead of himself like that,” the manager said. “That will be for when that time comes. They’ll handle that. But right now, I think he’s focused on going out there and performing on the big stage in the playoffs.”
