SEATTLE — With the New York Yankees just a win away from clinching a playoff berth, star slugger Juan Soto’s mind was on the money.
Soto brought up the sweepstakes for his services, sure to be the talk of baseball all offseason, after he crushed a special home run in a 11-2 win over the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park on Tuesday night.
Soto’s fourth-inning, two-run homer meant he had finally hit a home run in all 30 active ballparks. That was a big deal to the 25-year-old.
“What a best way to go into free agency with all 30 ballparks checked (off) my list,” he told reporters.
The Yankees hope they have made a strong impression on Soto after trading for him in the offseason. They started it by agreeing quickly with him on a $31 million salary for 2024 — the highest arbitration salary of all time. And they’re crossing their fingers that he’s enjoyed hitting in front of Aaron Judge and the adoration Yankees fans have shown him in the Bronx.
But Soto’s comment made it clear that the free agency process, in which he’s courted by teams across the league, was at the forefront of his mind.
Juan Soto on which milestone was going through his head as he was rounding the bases after tonight’s homer:
“I’m thinking more about the stadiums definitely… Being in the AL now I was like I have a really good chance to do it, so right when I hit it I was like ‘Oh finally.'” pic.twitter.com/Tl4kUOjn0k
— YES Network (@YESNetwork) September 18, 2024
In May, Soto’s agent Scott Boras downplayed Soto’s comfortability playing in New York, saying he’s had success in many other stadiums.
“I kind of look at performance levels,” Boras said at the time. “But here’s the problem with Juan Soto: When I did Bryce Harper’s contract — I focus on Bryce because he had over a 1.000 OPS in Philadelphia. I said, ‘I’m going to look at that with Juan.’ The problem is 14 teams fit that mold. Juan is comfortable in a lot of places.”
Soto also said that homering in every stadium was “another goal of my career.” Soto mentioned in spring training how homering in all 30 stadiums was on his mind now that he was in the American League. Soto spent his first six seasons in the National League between the Washington Nationals and the San Diego Padres.
“It’s a great feeling,” he said. “All the work I have been putting in and to get the results — it’s pretty cool.”
The blast added two other feathers to Soto’s cap. It was his 40th of the season — the first time in his career he’s reached the plateau. It also was his 200th career home run.
For the Yankees, Soto’s home came off starting pitcher Bryan Woo and extended the Yankees’ lead to 6-1.
40th HR of the season for Juan Soto 🔥#RepBX pic.twitter.com/tfRiOMcEVS
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) September 18, 2024
It helped them drop their magic number for clinching a postseason spot to just one. All they need to do is beat the Mariners on Wednesday or in Thursday’s series finale.
The victory also extended the Yankees’ lead atop the American League East to four games. The second-place Baltimore Orioles lost to the San Francisco Giants on Tuesday. The Yankees have 11 regular-season games left.
They’re a virtual lock to make the postseason, which means that Soto will have a chance to experience postseason baseball in pinstripes, and the Yankees will hope that helps influence his decision, too.
Soto and Judge became the third pair of Yankees teammates to hit 40 home runs in a season, joining Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig and Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris. Judge has an MLB-best 53 home runs.
“Since I got here in spring training,” Soto said, “my goal was to put my name close to those history books and be proud of it. Now, being up there and being with those guys, it feels very cool.”
Said Judge, “It’s an honor. It’s tough to really put into words. Those are baseball legends you’re talking about.”
Judge also gushed over Soto’s achievements.
“It’s amazing: 40 homers, hit the 200, hit (a home run in) every ballpark. That’s tough to do,” the Yankees captain said. “I feel like he just got into this game. What a career he’s having, what a year he’s having and definitely looking forward to more than that the rest of this year.”
Boone said Soto was a “special hitter” and that he’s no longer affected by the thought that Soto is just 25 years old because “it comes up a lot.”
“You’re always like, ‘Man, he’s 25, maybe he’s just scratching the surface of who he is,’” Boone said. “So, in a lot of ways, he’s not necessarily entered his prime. Maybe he’s entering it now.”
But will Soto’s prime happen with the Yankees? With someone else? It was clear Tuesday night that he’s still keeping all his options open.
(Photo: Joe Nicholson / Imagn Images)
