NEW YORK — For the New York Yankees, the 2024 season ended in a comedy of errors that left them to pursue Juan Soto without a title glow.
Soto was the last player lingering in the home dugout at Yankee Stadium after Wednesday night's 7-6 loss in Game 5 of the World Series, watching the Los Angeles Dodgers celebrate after New York frittered away a five-run lead with a monumental meltdown that included three errors, a catcher's interference call, a balk and a pitcher failing to cover first base.
The outfielder walked up a step on the end closest to first base, pointed to the sky, then followed his Yankees teammates to the clubhouse for perhaps the final time.
"I would love to see him in pinstripes for quite a long time," captain Aaron Judge said.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone thought in an even more expansive span: "I hope he's here forever."
An MLB All-Star the past four seasons and now a free agent at age 26, Soto is likely to command a contract of at least $500 million. His market is likely limited to baseball's big-market behemoths — the Yankees, Dodgers and New York Mets — along with perhaps the Boston Red Sox, Chicago Cubs, Philadelphia Phillies, San Diego Padres, San Francisco Giants and Toronto Blue Jays.
"Everyone wants to be on a winning team," Soto said. "That's one of the biggest things that you look up to."
He gave no hints of a favorite, answering questions as carefully as he observes the strike zone.
"I'm going to be available for all 30 teams," Soto said. "I don't want to say anybody has any advantage because at the end of the day, we're going to look at what they have and how much they want me."
While the Yankees went 94-68 for the best regular-season record in the American League this year and won the AL East Division after missing the playoffs in 2023, they self-destructed against the Dodgers and consigned themselves to a 15th straight season without the MLB title since winning their record-extending 27th.
With the Yankees ahead 5-0 in the fifth inning of Game 5, Judge dropped Tommy Edman's fly to center field for his first error since May 2023, Gold Glove-winning shortstop Anthony Volpe bounced a throw to third base trying for a forceout, and ace Gerrit Cole didn't cover first on Mookie Betts' grounder to Anthony Rizzo.
Boone was shattered. The clubhouse remained closed to media for an extended period after the game while the manager and players exchanged thoughts on the season and its ending, relief pitcher Clay Holmes said.
"This is going to sting forever," said Boone, who has managed the Yankees since the 2018 season.
"I'm heartbroken," he added, his voice quavering. "I haven't had that feeling of being — celebrating and going home, like many of the guys in there. I'm 51. I poured my life into that. You're chasing that, and when you get that close, it's heartbreaking."
He recalled the Yankees' Game 6 loss that closed out the 2003 World Series, when Boone was a player for New York.
"I can still see the Marlins and hear the Marlins celebrating on our field," he said. "It was one of the most painful moments that I've experienced."
New York has a 2025 option on Boone, who said Wednesday he hasn't thought about his future after leading the team to a 603-429 record, three AL East titles and one pennant in seven seasons. The Yankees' 15 years without winning the World Series is the third-longest drought in franchise history, behind the first 20 seasons (1903-22) and 17 from 1979-95.
Much of the roster will change. Torres is a free agent along with Holmes, Tim Hill and Tommy Kahnle among the relievers and left fielder Alex Verdugo. The Yankees are likely to decline Rizzo's $17 million option. Cole can opt out of his contract, but New York can void that by adding a $36 million salary for 2029.
New York has weakness at the bottom of its batting order. The No. 8 slot was 21st in the majors with a .219 average, and the No. 9 hole was 12th at .228.
Jazz Chisholm Jr., inserted at third after he was acquired from the Miami Marlins in July, could replace Torres at second.
DJ LeMahieu, coming off three straight injury-marred seasons, is signed for two more years at $15 million each.
While Jasson Domínguez could be an option in the outfield, he struggled at the plate and defensively in left field afer his return from Tommy John surgery.
Judge, likely to win his second AL MVP award after hitting 58 homers, slumped to a .184 average with three homers and nine RBIs in 14 postseason games. Now 32 after his ninth season with New York, Judge spoke before the World Series of how title-winning Yankees such as former captain Derek Jeter and legendary closer Mariano Rivera have a validation.
"They definitely got a different aura walking around here when you got a couple of rings on your fingers," he said.
Giancarlo Stanton hopes players learn "never to have this feeling again" and arrive at spring training with even greater focus and a determination to limit miscues.
"Up the level in all aspects," he said.