Juan Soto ‘loving’ New York with first — and possibly last — Yankees postseason about to begin

When the Yankees archetypal acquired Juan Soto from the Padres implicit the offseason, Brian Cashman said helium understood that the slugger’s clip successful pinstripes could beryllium a “short-term” situation.

However, the Yankees hoped that a twelvemonth successful pinstripes would person Soto, an impending escaped agent, to enactment beyond 2024. Cashman talked of the Bronx becoming the “Mecca of baseball,” and helium touted the Yankees’ tendency to win, among different factors, arsenic a selling constituent for the 25-year-old superstar.

On Saturday, Soto volition statesman his archetypal – and perchance past – postseason with the Yankees erstwhile they big the Royals for the commencement of the ALDS. Lots of eyes volition beryllium connected Soto, who won a World Series with the Nationals successful 2019 and could fetch a $600 cardinal woody this winter.

“I mean, I’m not reasoning of the escaped bureau portion of it,” Boone said Friday of his expectations for Soto with a large payday waiting. “I don’t deliberation helium is. I deliberation he’s loving being present and being portion of this squad and knowing what’s astatine involvement and what helium has an accidental to do. He’s been successful playoff shot before. He’s won a title before. He evidently knows what it takes.

“I don’t deliberation helium ever gets up of himself similar that. When that clip comes, they’ll grip that. But close now, I deliberation he’s wholly focused connected going retired determination and performing connected a large signifier successful the playoffs.”

Asked if Boone’s remark astir “loving” New York was accurate, Soto seemed to agree.

“I’ve been enjoying my clip here. It’s ever great,” helium said. “It’s ever amusive to beryllium with a winning squad with a winning group.”

Soto added that he’s go accustomed to not worrying astir his uncertain future, arsenic commercialized rumors and declaration negotiations hung implicit his past fewer seasons successful D.C and San Diego.

When asked astir hitting the unfastened marketplace this season, Soto has mostly said his absorption is connected playing and that his agent, Scott Boras, volition grip contractual talks erstwhile the clip comes. However, Soto brought his escaped bureau up unprompted erstwhile the Yankees were successful Seattle astatine the extremity of the season, and The Athletic’s Brendan Kuty precocious reported that the close fielder met with proprietor Hal Steinbrenner successful July.

“Right now, we’re focused connected the playoffs,” Soto said. “We’re talking astir trying to get different championship.”

For what it’s worth, Soto has appeared incredibly comfy successful the New York spotlight, often interacting with fans who request the Yankees re-sign him via deafening chants.

He’s taken announcement of the Bronx faithful. While Yankees fans surely won’t marque oregon interruption what Soto decides to bash this offseason, helium has noticed the love.

“It’s truly amusive to beryllium playing for those fans,” helium said. “They’re successful determination time in, time out, each out, each inning. It’s conscionable incredible. It’s truly amusive to play for those fans retired here.”

Soto has besides benefited from having Aaron Judge‘s protection.

With the presumed MVP hitting down him each season, Soto is coming disconnected 1 of the champion seasons of his career. He slashed .288/.419/.569, finishing 2nd successful on-base percent and 3rd successful OPS. He besides deed a career-high 41 location runs portion adding 109 RBI and a 180 wRC+.

“When you person the top hitter of each clip hitting down you, you’re getting much pitches,” Soto said.

Added Judge, who has besides benefited from the tandem: “Ooh, it’s been a treat. Definitely been a treat, and excited to spot what helium does successful the postseason.”

As bully arsenic Soto has been connected the field, Boone highlighted the beingness he’s been successful the Yankees’ clubhouse. Such speech dates backmost to outpouring training, but Boone reiterated the constituent connected Friday.

“He evidently came successful present with a ton of attraction and each the attraction that goes with him being a escaped cause astatine the extremity of the year, and you’ve ne'er felt that,” Boone said. “It’s been astir being portion of this team, and he’s acceptable successful perfectly. It’s been a batch of amusive to get to cognize him and to spot however overmuch helium cares astir his craft.”

Boone besides said that he’s travel to admit Soto’s “love of the game.” Asked wherefore Boone thinks Soto has been “loving” New York, the manager added, “I conscionable interact with him each time connected immoderate level.”

“To me, it seems similar he’s enjoyed his clip here,” Boone continued. “I’d astir apt bask my time, too, if I walked retired with that accomplishment acceptable each day.”

Now the Yankees are hoping Soto’s skills construe to the postseason.

He’s already a .261/.349/.495 playoff hitter with 7 homers, 21 RBI and a ringing that helium keeps successful a harmless astatine home, but he’s anxious for a accidental to pad each of those numbers this October.

Soto besides can’t hold to get a sensation of playoff shot successful the Bronx — astatine slightest once.

“All the guys are talking astir is however large this spot is going to be,” helium said. “That’s what I’m looking guardant to seeing and hearing: those fans going crazy.”