Related: The Yankees look within to achieve World Series aspirations
The New York Yankees and New York Mets both had terrific seasons, but fell short of their ultimate goal of winning the World Series, as the Los Angeles Dodgers sent both teams home disappointed. The Yankees have not won it all since 2009 and the Mets not since 1986. Now consequential personnel changes are on the horizon.
The Yankees, guided by manager Aaron Boone, lost to the Dodgers 4-1 in the World Series, including the series-ending Game 5 in the Bronx. The changes began almost immediately for the Yankees as 35-year-old starting first baseman Anthony Rizzo, injured late in the regular season and returning for the playoffs, did not have his option picked up by the team.
Second baseman Gleyber Torres, who made his Yankees debut in 2018, was not extended a qualifying offer and probably will not return. When Torres, 27, was installed as the leadoff hitter in August, he was a catalyst in closing out the final weeks of the regular season, with the Yankees finishing with the best record in the American League at 94-68.
However, Torres’s lack of hustle and overall inconsistency factored into Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner and senior vice president/general manager Brian Cashman’s decision.
Starting pitcher Gerrit Cole, the team’s ace, after originally exercising a clause that allowed him to opt out of his contract with four years remaining, did so to have the Yankees add an additional year at $36 million. So the 34-year-old Cole will be under contract with the franchise for five more years barring a future trade or retirement.
Yet by far the most followed and tense offseason drama in baseball is the free agency saga of outfielder Juan Soto. After a season in which he scored a league-leading 128 runs, hit 41 home runs and had 109 runs batted in, the 26-year-old superstar is poised to sign one of, if not the highest contract in Major League Baseball history.
“Maybe the grass isn’t always greener. I think he’s happy where he’s at,” Cashman said of Soto at MLB’s recent annual GM meeting. Soto is expected to receive a contract totaling between $600 and $700 million. The Mets, led by owner Steve Cohen and general manager David Stearns, are one team that will make a sizable offer. The Mets, under first-year manager Carlos Mendoza, made a surprisingly deep journey into the playoffs as a wildcard team, losing to the Dodgers 4-2 in the National League Championship Series.
Soto would provide another major piece that could make them one of the World Series favorites entering next season. Like the Yankees, the Mets are facing important moves, most notably offering free agent first baseman Pete Alonso an attractive deal or letting him walk. Both Alonso and Soto are represented by Scott Boras, one of the most influential agents in sports. Alonso, a Met his entire career and a fan favorite, had 34 home runs and 88 RBIs, durably not missing a single game this year.
He received a qualifying offer from the team but will probably decline it and test the free agent market. Sean Manaea, arguably the Mets best starting pitcher with a 12-6 record and a 3.47 earned from average this past season, and fellow starter Luis Severino, also received qualifying offers which Manaea declined, becoming free agent for the third straight season.