NEW YORK — It’s over.
As the Los Angeles Dodgers celebrated their World Series victory wildly on the field at Yankee Stadium, the New York Yankees quietly filed into the dugout and headed toward the clubhouse. One last walk of shame for a team that felt it was capable of so much more but lost in a lousy five games.
“I’m heartbroken. It doesn’t take away my pride of what that room means to me and what that group forged this year and what we’ve been through to get here,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said after the Game 5 loss. “But I’m heartbroken. I’m heartbroken, and I’m heartbroken for those guys that poured so much into this. The ending is cruel. It always is.”
Now, the attention of owner Hal Steinbrenner, general manager Brian Cashman and the front office must turn toward the offseason and new beginnings.
There will be lots of work to do and plenty of questions to answer, starting right now.
Bring back Aaron Boone?
Boone just finished the final guaranteed year of his three-year deal. The Yankees hold a team option on him for 2025.
There’s been no indication that the Yankees are considering moving on from Boone, who will be 52 next season. Before Game 4, Boone told reporters he hadn’t had any conversations yet with the club regarding his future.
Leading up to the World Series, Cashman had said he felt Boone did a great job this season. Steinbrenner often spoke with Boone before games in the playoffs, with their relationship seeming as strong as ever. Yankees players made it a point to douse Boone with beer and champagne during celebrations after clinching the American League Division Series and AL Championship Series. Nestor Cortes dumped beer over Boone’s head chanting, “That’s my manager!”
There are good vibes around Boone everywhere he looks. But don’t forget: The Yankees dumped Joe Girardi after they lost in seven games in the ALCS in 2017. Girardi had a World Series title on his resume. Boone does not.
Boone’s regular season winning percentage of .584 (603-429) is second among active managers, behind only the Dodgers’ Dave Roberts at .627 (851-507). But in the Bronx, you don’t get paid to win in the regular season. Boone has not yet brought the Yankees a title. But he’ll almost definitely get another chance. — Brendan Kuty
What will Juan Soto do?
This is the biggest on-field question that hovers around the Yankees this winter. Unlike Aaron Judge, who dropped hints along the way of his true feelings on wanting to return to New York, Soto has given zero indication of what he wants in free agency.
“I don’t know what’s the teams that wanna come after me,” Soto said after the Yankees’ elimination in Game 5. “Definitely, I’m gonna be open to this and every single team. I don’t have any doors closed. I’m gonna be available for all 30 teams.”
He’ll have plenty of suitors who will pursue him along with the Yankees. The New York Mets, Dodgers, Philadelphia Phillies and Toronto Blue Jays will likely be the biggest competition for Soto’s services over the next decade plus.
What Soto showed in his only guaranteed season with the Yankees is that he’s indispensable. He’s a key reason why the Yankees won the American League East and advanced to the World Series. In a lineup in which many bats went quiet in October, his was one of the loudest, along with Giancarlo Stanton’s.
Steinbrenner also risks further displeasure among the Yankees fanbase who’ve chanted “Re-sign Soto!” all year long. They’ve made it clear that they want Soto to finish his career in the Bronx. As Steinbrenner held up the American League trophy in Cleveland after the ALCS, the Yankees fans in attendance again shouted “Re-sign Soto!”
The Yankees had zero leverage after the 2022 season when it came to re-signing Judge. He finished that year setting the single-season home run AL record and they didn’t have anyone who had the star power he possesses. Two years later, it’s become apparent that they’ll also have little leverage with Soto in free agency. They need him or else they’ll become a diminished on-field product. — Chris Kirschner
How will they close the gap with the Dodgers?
If there’s one thing the Yankees learned in the World Series, it’s that the Dodgers have a deeper collection of talent.
Both clubs didn’t get much production out of their No. 1 stars — Judge for the Yankees and Shohei Ohtani for the Dodgers — but Los Angeles had contributions up and down its lineup that made up for Ohtani’s lack of output in the Fall Classic. The Yankees had Soto and Stanton step up, but the other seven spots in the order didn’t give them much.
The Yankees need better hitters going into next season, but how they will accomplish that remains to be seen. Steinbrenner has said this season’s payroll is unsustainable. If he won’t eclipse a $300 million payroll once again, they must get creative to improve their roster. They may have holes to fill at first base, second base and left field. That doesn’t include needing more out of Anthony Volpe at shortstop, who was a disappointment offensively. If Soto departs in free agency, this club will look different.
It’s not a good free agency year. Outside of Soto, the best offensive free agent who might make sense for the Yankees is Mets first baseman Pete Alonso. Will the Yankees want to shell out nine figures for a first baseman? Milwaukee Brewers shortstop Willy Adames is available, but either he or Volpe would have to make a position change. Teoscar Hernández is a free agent, and if the Yankees don’t trust Jasson Domínguez to fill left field, he should be a target.
For years, the Yankees knew they needed to close the gap with the Houston Astros. But to win a title for the first time since 2009, they’ll need to figure out what needs to be done to eclipse the Dodgers, who look built to dominate MLB in the years ahead. — Kirschner
(Top photo of Juan Soto: Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
