DALLAS — With one decision, the Yankees’ world and persona have been upended.
They no longer are the bullying big brothers in the City.
They no longer have one of the best hitters in the world, one who is on a clear Hall of Fame trajectory.
They no longer have a Plan A.
Juan Soto, who grew beloved in his one season in The Bronx, is no longer a Yankee and is instead a Yankees villain.
Circle May 16 on your 2025 calendar for the first time he will return to Yankee Stadium.
He will be treated far differently than the last time.
In a conclusion that felt stunning and yet not truly surprising considering the rival ownership, Soto has left the Yankees but not New York, agreeing to a monstrous, 15-year, $765 million deal with the Mets on Sunday night to kick off the winter meetings at the Hilton Anatole and surely tick off the Yankees.
Hal Steinbrenner & Co. raised their offer several times and maxed out at $760 million over 16 seasons, according to The Post’s Jon Heyman, but the pockets of Steve Cohen were too deep in constructing the largest pact in baseball history.
The Yankees will have to replace one of the most entertaining and best bats in the game, one who partnered with Aaron Judge to wreck opposing pitching in his one year in The Bronx.
He led the league in runs, crushed 41 homers, posted a .989 OPS and only elevated his game in the postseason in carrying the club three wins shy of a World Series title.
If the Yankees hoped that Soto’s comfort in the Stadium and clubhouse would prove an advantage, they were incorrect.
With no one available even in the same vicinity of Soto’s quality, the Yankees’ Plan B must focus on quantity.
The club has spoken recently with top-of-the-rotation arms in Max Fried and Corbin Burnes.
If they cannot pair two of the most potent batters in the world to outscore opponents, maybe they can come up with a Gerrit Cole complement to outpitch opponents.
Burnes, who likely will out-earn Fried, should fetch upwards of $200 million.
Follow The Post’s coverage of Juan Soto’s historic megadeal with the Mets:
- Juan Soto signing with Mets on gargantuan $765 million contract as Yankees miss out
- Heyman: Steve Cohen wasn’t going to let anything stop his high-priced Juan Soto pursuit
- Juan Soto doused with beer in hot tub as he celebrates historic Mets deal
- Sherman: Hal Steinbrenner still can’t escape the ghost of his father after Yankees’ Juan Soto miss
Arguably the second-best position player on the market is no longer available after Willy Adames agreed to a contract with the Giants.
The Yankees, who have a need at third base or second base, could target Alex Bregman — proven and talented, but an enemy from the 2017 Astros who is hated by the fan base and would be a curious clubhouse fit — or explore the trade market for someone like Nolan Arenado or Alec Bohm.
After declining Anthony Rizzo’s option, the Yankees also seek a first baseman and could counterpunch the Mets by swiping Pete Alonso.
Only Judge has slugged more home runs since 2019 than Alonso, but the 30-year-old is coming off a down season with concerns about how lumbering first basemen age.
Other options here include Christian Walker, Paul Goldschmidt and Carlos Santana.
With no Soto and with no true center fielder, the Yankees probably could use multiple outfielders.
Teoscar Hernandez and Anthony Santander are the most attractive free agents, and lefty-swinging Joc Pederson would love the Stadium.
The center field market is bleak, which could push the club to swing a deal for the Cubs’ Cody Bellinger, who is owed $27.5 million for next season.
Could a team that might not out-slug the other team instead try to suffocate it late in games?
How about adding back-end arms such as Tanner Scott and Jeff Hoffman after losing Clay Holmes and Tommy Kahnle?
When the Yankees lost the bidding for Robinson Cano after the 2013 season, they redirected funds to Carlos Beltran, Jacoby Ellsbury, Brian McCann and Masahiro Tanaka — a $458 million splurge that had hits, costly misses and resulted in zero championships.
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A theoretical version this winter could include Burnes, Bregman, Alonso, Santander, Bellinger and Scott for a sum that might total around $650 million — or more than $100 million less than Soto.
The Yankees have options, surely heartache and a few new nemeses — a superstar who looked at home in The Bronx but will call another borough home, and a rival owner who has announced himself as the most intimidating financial force in the sport.
