WASHINGTON, D.C. – Juan Soto had already been back to Nationals Park since Washington traded him to the Padres midway through the 2022 season, but that didn’t stop him from taking in the sights when the Yankees showed up there on Monday afternoon.
“It’s always great to be back in a place that I called home for a couple years,” said Soto, who spent the first 6 ½ seasons of his pro career in D.C. “It’s gonna be fun. The fans over there, they’re always grateful, and it’s always great to go back and see a lot of coaches and teammates that I played with.
“It was great moments. I mean, right when you step off that bus and you see the big sign that says World Series champs, it just brings you so many memories.”
Soto had just turned 21 when the Nats won that championship in 2019. He went off in that Fall Classic win over the Astros, hitting .333/.438/.741 with two doubles, three home runs, seven RBI, five walks and one stolen base in the seven-game series.
“I would like the ring, but it was a good battle,” said Gerrit Cole, a former Astro and current Yankees teammate who surrendered a double and two homers to Soto in that series. “It was a really good battle. It was a great World Series. So they were very much deserving.”
Added Aaron Boone, whose Yankees were eliminated by Houston in that year’s ALCS: “He kind of felt like he was the guy. That was a great Nationals team. I did watch a lot of that World Series, even coming off the disappointment of the ALCS. My dad was in the [Nationals] organization then. I don’t know if it was a coming out party for him, but probably on a national level — pardon the pun — him announcing his presence as one of the game’s greats.”
Soto, now 25, has remained among the best in the game, which is why he’s expected to command a contract over $500 million this offseason.
The Yankees have made it clear that they will try to retain the superstar, who entered Monday’s game with a .299/.429/.606 slash line, a career-high 37 homers, 95 RBI and a 188 wRC+ while hitting in front of Aaron Judge.
“He’s still probably scratching the surface of who he’s becoming as a player,” said Boone, agreeing that it’s “wild” that Soto is as young as he is. “That’s scary when you consider the success that he’s already had. I think we’re clearly seeing now, clearly still a young man, and very much even just entering the physical prime of his career probably. But he’s reaping the benefits of being an experienced player in the league now for a while.”
With endorsements like that, the Yankees won’t be alone in their pursuit of Soto. Other big-market teams, including the Mets, are expected to join.
Meanwhile, Monday’s D.C. homecoming has led some to wonder if the Nationals could try for a reunion this winter. The team’s general manager, Mike Rizzo, declined to comment on such speculation, citing the fact that Soto is under contract with the Yankees.
But the Nationals have little money on their books, lots of young talent and shown a willingness to spend in the past. With that in mind, Soto was asked how he might respond if fans ask him to come back during this series.
“Play baseball,” Soto said with a laugh. “That’s all I can do. Right now, I’m playing for the Yankees. I’m happy where I’m at, and we’ll see what happens in free agency.”
Soto has said that he won’t rule any teams out in free agency. It would be silly for him to do so publicly.
With that caveat noted, Soto did talk about how much he appreciated Nationals fans.
“They’ve been showing up since I debuted,” Soto said. “Everything I remember from these fans is positive things, and I was thankful for them. They showed me the whole love that they have for me, and they made me who I am right now. I cannot be more grateful for them and happy to see them again.”
With free agency and a life-changing choice on the horizon, Soto insisted that he’s focused on his day job, a stance he’s maintained since becoming a Yankee.
Boone said something similar, claiming that Soto’s free agency is “not even a distraction for him.”
“You got the sense right away that his priorities are where they need to be,” Boone continued. “They’re on being the best player he can be, and he’s about winning. He’s shown us that from jump street in spring training. He really connected with his teammates. For him, it’s about winning baseball games every day. He knows he’s an integral part of that and needs to be an integral part of that. He handles the things he needs to on a daily basis.
“I certainly get the sense Juan has enjoyed being here and likes being a part of this group and is a large voice in our room. I’ve certainly wanted to do my part in making sure this is a place he enjoys being, but beyond that, it’s going to play out how it does.”
Soto, meanwhile, said that he’s “big-time” hungry for another ring. He called the final out of the 2019 World Series one of his favorite moments from his career, and it’s a feeling he’d like to experience again.
“I’d never been part of something like that,” Soto said, but he added that the 2024 Yankees have similar “vibes” with the stretch run underway.
“This clubhouse is really close to what we had over there,” Soto said. “How everybody’s together, everybody’s having fun. It’s really cool to see that, and I can’t wait to see this team in the playoffs.”
