Juan Soto’s first season with the New York Yankees has taken place almost everything they could have dreamed of.

He was brilliant (41 home runs, 237 combined runs and RBIs), as were they (94 wins, plus-147 run differential). Although they fell short of their ultimate goal, losing the World Series to the Los Angeles Dodgers in five games, it was one of the most productive MLB partnerships in recent memory.

“We were really lucky to have him here,” Aaron Judge said. told reporters.

The question, of course, now arises whether the Yankees can keep him.

Free agency awaits Soto, and it’s almost certain to end in one of the richest contracts this league has ever seen. He’s getting Monopoly money at this point — reaching or even surpassing the $500 million threshold seems possible — and while the Yankees might be close to signing his next contract, Soto isn’t ready to s commit to anything.

He wants to play with the market and see exactly what everyone has to offer.

“I’m really happy with the city, with the team, but in the end we’ll see,” Soto said. “We are going to look at every situation, every offer that we receive. I don’t know which teams want to succeed me, but I will certainly be open to listening to every team. I don’t have any closed doors or anything like that , so we will be available for all 30 teams.”

Sure, all 30 teams can’t afford it, but several big spenders could give chase. While it’s far too early to say how things will play out, it’s not at all too early to suggest that an exit is possible.

That’s why the Yankees have already made plans for Plan B. By Jon Heyman of the New York Postthey think maybe they could add “three to four stars” if they don’t re-sign Soto. The notable names mentioned are really interesting.

New York could target bats and guns in an offseason without Soto. Among the backup plan possibilities, Heyman mentioned Pete Alonso (226 homers over the past six seasons), Anthony Santander (44 homers and 102 RBIs this season), Alex Bregman (two-time All-Star and two-time World Cup champion). Series), Corbin Burnes (four-time All-Star and former Cy Young) and Blake Snell (two-time Cy Young).

Add a combination of the above to the Yankees returning – Judge, Gerrit Cole, Jazz Chisholm Jr., Giancarlo Stanton, Anthony Volpe, Jasson Domínguez, Carlos Rodón – and this team could be great.

It still wouldn’t be the same team as this season. As intriguing as this backup plan may seem, it’s a backup plan for a reason.

Soto is a star of the highest wattage. He’s on a short list of the league’s best hitters, and he gives New York a cheat code combo in the lineup ahead of Judge. Soto is also only 26 years old, which means that despite everything he’s accomplished so far — four All-Star nods, four Silver Slugger awards, three top-six finishes in MVP voting — he It’s entirely possible that his best baseball is yet to come.

He looks like a generational talent from every angle, and it would be disgusting to see this type of talent up close and then see it disappear so soon.

“It would be great to continue playing with him because he’s definitely a special player,” Judge told reporters. “I think everyone in this room wants him back. … He just does a lot of little things that people don’t notice that really make him one of the best players, if not the best player in the game. “

Losing Soto wouldn’t sink this team, but keeping him at almost any price imaginable would be the best possible outcome for pinstripes.