WATCH: Juan Soto cuts dejected figure in Yankees bench as Dodgers snatch World Series 4-1 to silence New York fans in home stadium
Juan Soto's baseball season is over as he wore a dejected look on his face following the New York Yankees' loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the fifth game of the World Series on Wednesday at the Yankee Stadium.
Soto, who was traded to the Yankees by the San Diego Padres earlier this season, had high hopes of winning the World Series for the second time, after winning it in 2019 with the Washington Nationals.
However, the Dodgers thwarted those hopes, recovering from a 5-0 deficit to clinch a thrilling Game 5 7-6, shattering the Yankees' hopes of ending their 15-year World Series drought. Soon after Alex Verdugo was struck out by Walker Buehler to end the ninth and the game, the Dodgers erupted in joy amidst a disappointed Yankee Stadium crowd.
While most of the Yankees players headed back to the locker room, leaving the field, Juan Soto sat on the dugout bench watching the Dodgers' celebration with a disappointed look. Here's the video:
He couldn't believe what unfolded in front of him, and it may have been the last time Soto played for the Yankees, as the outfielder has become a free agent.
Juan Soto enters free agency, expected to bag a big paycheck
With the 2024 season over, the Yankees' stint with Juan Soto for a season has come to an end. They would have been delighted had they won a World Series, but an AL pennant after 15 years is no joke.
Nevertheless, the Yankees have work to do this offseason. Even Soto's agent, Scott Boras, will have a busy offseason ahead, as multiple big market teams will be interested in signing the player.
Many analysts think Soto deserves a big pay check, even a larger contract than the one the Dodgers gave Shohei Ohtani (10-year $700 million) ahead of the 2024 season. Juan Soto had a career year, hitting .288 with 166 hits, 41 home runs, 109 RBIs and 128 runs scored in 157 games this season.
His postseason numbers were also really good, hitting .327 with 16 hits, four home runs, nine RBIs and 12 runs scored in 14 games. Moreover, in the World Series against the Dodgers, Soto hit .313 with five hits, a homer, an RBI and six runs scored.
The Yankees, Mets and the San Francisco Giants are among several teams reportedly willing to sign the free agent this winter.