After sloppy, bitter disappointment in World Series, Yankees turn attention to keeping Juan Soto

NEW YORK -- The New York Yankees play ended successful a drama of errors that near them to prosecute Juan Soto without a title glow.

Soto was nan past subordinate lingering successful nan dugout aft Wednesday night's 7-6 nonaccomplishment successful World Series Game 5, watching nan Los Angeles Dodgers observe aft New York frittered distant a five-run lead pinch a monumental meltdown that included 3 errors, a catcher’s interference call, a balk and a pitcher failing to screen first base.

He walked up a measurement connected nan first-base end, pointed to nan sky, past followed his Yankees teammates to nan clubhouse for possibly nan last time.

“I would emotion to spot him successful pinstripes for rather a agelong time,” skipper Aaron Judge said.

Aaron Boone thought successful an moreover much expansive span.

“I dream he’s present forever,” nan head said.

A free supplier astatine 26, Soto is apt to bid a statement of astatine slightest $500 million. His marketplace is apt constricted to baseball's big-market behemoths, nan Yankees, Mets and Dodgers on pinch possibly nan Blue Jays, Cubs, Giants, Padres, Phillies and Red Sox.

“Everyone wants to beryllium connected a winning team,” Soto said. “That’s 1 of nan biggest things that you look up to.”

He gave nary hints of a favorite, answering questions arsenic cautiously arsenic he observes nan onslaught zone.

“I'm going to beryllium disposable for each 30 teams,” Soto said. “I don’t want to opportunity anybody has immoderate advantage because astatine nan extremity of nan day, we’re going to look astatine what they person and really overmuch they want me.”

While nan Yankees went an AL-best 94-68 and won nan East aft missing nan playoffs successful 2023, they self-destructed against nan Dodgers and consigned themselves to a 15th consecutive play of without a title.

With nan Yankees up 5-0 successful nan 5th inning of Game 5, Judge dropped Tommy Edman's alert to halfway for his first correction since May 2023, Gold Glove-winning shortstop Anthony Volpe bounced a propulsion to 3rd trying for a forceout and ace Gerrit Cole didn't screen first connected Mookie Betts' grounder to Anthony Rizzo.

Boone was shattered. The clubhouse remained closed to media for an extended play aft nan crippled while nan head and players exchanged thoughts connected nan play and ending, according to reliever Clay Holmes.

“This is going to sting forever,” Boone said.

“I’m heartbroken,” he added, his sound quavering. “I haven’t had that emotion of being — celebrating and going home, for illustration galore of nan guys successful there. I’m 51. I poured my life into that. You’re chasing that, and erstwhile you get that close, it’s heartbreaking.”

He recalled nan Yankees’ Series-ending Game 6 nonaccomplishment to Miami successful 2003, erstwhile Boone was a player.

“I tin still spot nan Marlins and perceive nan Marlins celebrating connected our field,” he said. “It was 1 of nan astir achy moments that I’ve experienced.”

New York has a 2025 action connected Boone, who said Wednesday he hasn't thought astir his early aft starring nan squad to a 603-429 record, 3 AL East titles and 1 pennant successful 7 seasons. The Yankees' 15 years without winning nan World Series is nan third-longest drought successful franchise history, down nan first 20 seasons from 1903-22 and 17 from 1979-95.

Much of nan roster will change. Torres is simply a free supplier on pinch Holmes, Tommy Kahnle and Tim Hill among nan relievers and near fielder Alex Verdugo. The Yankees are apt to diminution Rizzo's $17 cardinal option. Cole tin opt retired of his contract, but New York tin void that by adding a $36 cardinal net for 2029.

New York has weakness astatine nan bottommost of its batting order. The No. 8 slot was 21st successful nan fields astatine .219 and nan No. 9 spread 12th astatine .228.

Jazz Chisholm Jr., inserted astatine 3rd aft he was acquired from Miami successful July, could switch Torres astatine second.

DJ LeMahieu, coming disconnected 3 consecutive injury-marred seasons, is signed for 2 much years astatine $15 cardinal each.

While Jasson Domínguez could beryllium an action successful nan outfield, he struggled astatine nan sheet and defensively successful near section pursuing his return from Tommy John surgery.

Judge, apt to triumph his 2nd AL MVP aft hitting 58 homers, slumped to a .184 mean pinch 3 homers and 9 RBIs successful 14 postseason games. Now 32 pursuing his ninth play pinch New York, Judge said earlier nan Series of really champion Yankees specified arsenic Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera person a validation.

“They decidedly sewage a different aura stepping astir present erstwhile you sewage a mates of rings connected your fingers,” he said.

Giancarlo Stanton hopes players study “never to person this emotion again” and get astatine outpouring training pinch moreover greater attraction and a determination to limit miscues.

“Up nan level successful each aspects,” he said.

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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb