Yankees sense Juan Soto loving N.Y. with free agency looming

NEW YORK -- Before the Yankees swing into the postseason in the American League Division Series, New York manager Aaron Boone downplayed the magnitude of the moment in front of slugger Juan Soto.

The sidekick to Aaron Judge, Soto is on the precipice of free agency at the ripe age of 25 and coming off of a 41-homer, 109-RBI season with the Yankees.

"I'm not thinking of the free agency part of it. I don't think he is," Boone said Friday during team workouts at Yankee Stadium, final preparation for the opening game of the ALDS against the Kansas City Royals on Saturday. "I think he's loving being here and being part of this team and knowing what's at stake and what he has an opportunity to do. He's been in playoff baseball before. He's won a championship before. He obviously knows what it takes.

"I think that's where his mind is. Talk about being present; I think he's very present with where he is, and obviously he's coming off an amazing regular season. Obviously a guy we count on heavily in our lineup, but I think he's in a great place."

Win or lose in this series, Soto would appear to be undeniably in a great place. Judge is two years into a $360 million contract he signed in 2023. Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani signed for $70 million per season as the free agency headliner last winter. Soto's value has been projected somewhere in between and is central to him being traded from the Washington Nationals to the Padres and then landing with the Yankees before signing a long-term contract.

"I don't think he ever gets ahead of himself like that. I think that'll be for -- when that time comes, they'll handle that," Boone said. "But right now, I think he's completely focused on going out there and performing on a big stage in the playoffs."

Soto hit 41 total homers in 214 games with the Padres and has 208 in his career including five in 17 playoff games with the Nationals on the way to the World Series in 2019. He added a pair in the playoffs with the Padres in 2022.

Boone said he senses Soto loves being with the Yankees. From the manager down to the 25th man on the roster, teammates are loving having Soto, too.

"I'd probably enjoy my time, too, if I walked out with that skill set every day," Boone said. "But to see how he -- watching him interact with his teammates and just watch his ease with which he moves through the room. And in my view the comfortability he has in our room, that's what tells me that."

Even opposing players praised Soto Friday when talking to reporters at Yankee Stadium. Right-handed pitcher Michael Wacha - who is set to start Game 1 for the Royals and played with Soto on the Padres last season -- called Soto "unbelievable talent."

"He swings at strikes, lays off of balls out of the zone, and whenever he does swing, he makes really good contact with the ball and hits the ball hard and finds a lot of holes," Wacha said. "He hits for average, hits for power, drives guys in. He's an unbelievable talent, like I said. He's somebody that you've got to game plan for for sure."

--Field Level Media