Will Juan Soto wear pinstripes next season?

Yankees fans are heartbroken after a World Series loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Dodgers claimed four games, while the Yankees only claimed one game in a five-game series. As the Yankees head into the off-season, the question is, will the Yankees pay Juan Soto his asking price of $700 million?

Soto has recorded 41 home runs, the most he has recorded in his career in the MLB. He also has a .989 OPS percentage with the Yankees this season alone he has also recorded 109 RBIs and a batting average of .288 according to ESPN.

Last year, the Dodgers signed Shohei “Shotime” Ohtani to a staggering 10-year, $700 million deal. His contract was the highest in sports history. Soto would then become the second highest-paid player. With his performance during the Yankees season, he will garner no less than $500 million.

After the World Series ended, Soto said, "I do not have any doors closed or anything like that. I am going to be available for all 30 teams." Four days ago, Sports Illustrated revealed that he wants $700 million or more. According to an MLB insider, three big teams are interested in signing Soto: the Los Angeles Dodgers, the New York Yankees, and the New York Mets.

As Soto's one-year contract is up, here is him talking about the performance of the New York Yankees in the World Series and his contract by YES Network:

No matter where he ends up, he will sign a long-term deal. If the Bronx Bombers re-sign Soto, he will be one of the highest-paid players in Yankees history.

There are currently two contracts in effect that belong to team captain Aaron Judge and star pitcher Gerrit Cole. Judge's contract is a nine-year, $360 million, and Cole's contract is a nine-year, $324 million. These are the two highest contracts given out by the Yankees organization.

MLB insider Jeff Passan reported at 10 p.m. on November 4, 2024, that Gleyber Torres declined the $21 million qualifying offer from the Yankees and is now testing the market. This move would allow the Yankees to utilize their cap space as much as possible to bring back Soto in pinstripes for the foreseeable future.

According to the Kansas City Star, the New York Yankees may have a backup plan if Soto is taken off the market to a team other than the Yankees. If this is the case, the Yankees will receive a compensatory draft pick.

Since Rizzo and Torres are free agents, Chisholm would move from third base to his natural second Base position. Third base is still a question mark for the Yankees. The Yankees could bring Mets' first baseman Pete Alonso to fill in the spot at first and fill in the power gap, ESPN's Butler Olney said on Monday.

The door is still open for the Yankees to re-sign Soto. If he does come back for a long-term deal, Yankee fans will be ecstatic about the return of Juan Soto. He is one of the reasons that the Yankees made the playoffs and the World Series after the disappointing 2023 season.

The 26-year-old slugger is coming off season highs as a Yankee. No matter where he will be next year, it is safe to say he will be with that team for a long time. If the Yankees re-sign him back, they have to go all in on Soto wearing pinstripes.

Rehan Karnani is a first-year majoring in telecommunications and media industries. To contact him, email rrk5317@psu.edu.