Do the Yankees have an advantage? NO.

NEW YORK – In a matter of moments Wednesday night, the New York Yankees went from being Juan Soto's employer to one of the 30 teams that could pay for his services next year.

Soto, the 26-year-old slugger and baseball's most sought-after free agent this winter, made it clear that while the Yankees will definitely have a chance at retaining his services at a tender likely to exceed $500 million, his decision is his but will almost certainly be different than that of his powerful partner Aaron Judge.

The Yankees responded relatively quickly, re-signing Judge to a nine-year, $360 million contract after he hit 53 home runs in 2022. But Judge was always a Yankee, homegrown, soon to be captain.

Soto? A World Series champion at age 21, he was traded to the Washington Nationals at age 23 and dealt again to the Yankees before this season. That's a lifetime of breathtaking movement in just a few years.

And yes, the marriage was almost perfect: Soto hit a career-high 41 home runs, posted a .989 OPS, gave Judge a run for his money for AL MVP, and then dominated the postseason with a .327 average and four home runs, a 1.102 OPS and a pennant-winning home run.

But it all ended in Game 5 of the World Series, a 7-6 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers that forced Soto off the field early Thursday morning.

His Yankee teammates desperately want him back. Soto?

“I think every team has an equal opportunity when I go into free agency,” he said after Game 5 at Yankee Stadium.

But the excitement of New York, the tradition that comes with being a Yankee, the incredible partnership with Judge, the love he and his teammates all supposedly feel in the home clubhouse – that makes it feel like Soto prefers New York would, right?

“I don’t think so,” Soto said, undeterred. “I'm really happy with the city and the team, but at the end of the day we'll look at every situation and every offer we get and go from there.

“I don't know which teams want to come after me, but I'm open to this and every single team. I didn't close any doors or anything like that. I will be available to all 30 teams.”

Okay, so the Tampa Bay Rays or Pittsburgh Pirates won't be playing against Soto. His market realistically includes no more than a half-dozen teams, with clubs like San Francisco and Toronto still looking to make a splash in free agency, Philadelphia always a live dog and, like agent Scott Boras, the masses next week is revealed at the general. A handful of mystery teams will emerge at manager meetings.

With that in mind, calling the Yankees one of just 30 might be a little confusing for fans who have fallen in love with Soto this year and realize how important he is to their future.

Not to mention his teammates.

“We were lucky to have him here and it would be great to continue playing with him,” said Judge, who probably had his best all-around season with Soto.

“Because he is a special player. I think everyone in this room wants him back. Stats aside, it's the type of leader he is in this clubhouse and a lot of little things that people don't notice that make him one of the best, if not the best, player in the game.

“He’s a scientist up there. I would definitely like to see him in pinstripes for a long time.”

For now, Soto plans to sit down with Team Boras and wait. Boras clients are known for entering the free agency process well, and while Soto won't have to sit out much of spring training like the so-called Boras Four did this year, he's ready for the market to come his way let.

That's not good news for the Yankees, who certainly knew there would be no preemptive strike. As expected, the question for them is: How badly do they want him?

Fans made their voices heard and asked management to re-sign Soto several times this year. Had the songs touched him?

“It will probably impact the ownership decision,” Soto said with a laugh. “We’ll see how it goes.”

The judge thinks Soto should enjoy the free agent process and reap the rewards he earned from the six years of service that set him free. Fellow forward Giancarlo Stanton, who signed a $325 million contract extension with Miami before a move to New York, says he can't offer Soto any free-agent advice.

Well, maybe a bite.

“Maybe stay with us?” he asked.

It doesn't hurt that the Yankees won 94 games and the AL pennant. Soto will likely go to the highest bidder, but also to a successful franchise – the two are often linked – and New York has an advantage in that regard over suitors like the Giants and Blue Jays.

But next month everyone will be on equal terms until offers are made, countered and examined.

“It's always great to have a champagne shower,” he says of the idea of returning to New York to finish the job. We'll see what happens in the offseason.

“The Yankees are one of the teams. And we’ll go from there.”

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Do the Yankees have an advantage? NO.

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