Aaron Boone Reveals Stance On Juan Soto’s Yankees Future After World Series

The Yankees suffered a heartbreaking loss in the World Series, and they quickly shifted focus to one of their star players.

Defensive errors highlighted a brutal Game 5 loss for New York at Yankee Stadium against the Los Angeles Dodgers. The natural course of action for the American League pennant winners is how to retool the team for another run, and that starts with Juan Soto.

The 26-year-old admitted Wednesday he’d leave the window open for all 30 MLB clubs. His teammates, including Aaron Judge, wished for Soto to return to the Bronx but also respected his decision to test the market. Manager Aaron Boone offered his view of the four-time All-Star’s free agency.

“Just an absolute privilege,” Boone told reporters of having Soto for a year, per YES Network. “As great a player — and in just talking to him before I walked in here, he was that good a person too with us. It was fun getting to know his family a little bit. I consider him family now. He was just so easy to manage. Just somebody I have a lot of admiration for and a lot of respect for.

“I hope he’s here forever, but I also know I’m excited for him and what the next few months are for him. But from my standpoint, I couldn’t have asked for better.”

Soto turned down a reported 15-year, $440 million extension with the Washington Nationals in 2022. He’s increased his value, and it would not be surprising if he received a contract exceeding $700 million.

New York could offer Soto that kind of contract, but it won’t be the only team that will.