THE New York Yankees failed in the World Series, losing to Freddie Freeman, Mookie Betts, Shohei Ohtani and the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Now that they’ve had their first taste of the World Series in over a decade, the Yankees have an opportunity to win the offseason and return to the Fall Classic in 2025. They have a core of players like Aaron Judge and Gerrit Cole signed. for the next seasons. Now if they can go out, re-sign some key players and make some smart additions, they could be the favorites to make it out of the AL again.

But it all starts with how they attack the next free agency class, which includes re-signing the best free agent on the market: Juan Soto.

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One of the most disappointing aspects of this 2024 Yankees team has been the bullpen. Clay Holmes suffered one of the worst second-half meltdowns in the entire American League, going from Holmes All-Star closer and one of the best relievers in baseball to a nearly unusable arm by the time the playoffs arrived. Luke Weaver took a huge step forward in his place, providing a ton of highlight-reel performances down the stretch for the Yankees, but the bullpen is still an area of ​​need heading into free agency.

Luckily, there are a ton of incredible relief arms available this winter, but the Yankees will likely spend a lot of money trying to re-sign Soto. The bullpen’s task will be to find high-leverage options on a limited budget – guys like Jeff Hoffman of the Philadelphia Phillies.

Hoffman has posted back-to-back sub-3.00 ERA seasons out of Philadelphia’s bullpen, with 2024 being the better of the two. He’s not the team’s closer, so his price tag wouldn’t be as high as someone like Tanner Scott, but he provides the stability New York would need in the seventh, eighth or even ninth inning.

The first thing to consider with the Yankees, beyond Juan Soto, is determining their infield. Gleyber Torres is set to enter free agency and the Yankees will either have to re-sign Torres or add a new infielder to replace him. The move that makes the most sense to me, believe it or not, is adding legendary Houston Astros third baseman Alex Bregman.

This would allow Aaron Boone to move Jazz Chisholm Jr. to second base to replace Torres. They would then place Bregman as their everyday third baseman. Chisholm is a natural second baseman and that is where he is most similar, although he has played a solid third base this year. Torres, on the other hand, has been one of the worst statistical defenders in the entire league.

Placing Bregman at third base gives the Yankees a better defensive infield as well as a better offensive infield. It would be difficult to pitch this idea to die-hard Yankees fans who hate Bregman, but he would make their team much better than the past should always haunt them. Especially if Bregman can help bring the World Series back to the Bronx.

Is there a more obvious answer to this question for the Yankees?

Obviously, the top priority for anyone associated with New York will be getting Soto to sign on the dotted line for a massive contract extension that will keep him in the Bronx for the remainder of his prime. The deal could last between 10 and 15 years, and many insiders expect Soto to get a total value of more than $500 million.

Honestly, there shouldn’t be a monetary limit on the Yankees getting Soto; whatever he is willing to receive from another organization, New York should give him another $10 million. Over the next 10 years, there is a very good chance that Soto will become the best player in baseball. He’s so good, and he’s still only 26 years old.

If he can stay healthy and continue on the path he’s on, Soto could find himself in the 500 or 600 home run club. Keeping him in New York after an incredible start with the team will be the decision that makes or breaks Brian Cashman’s offseason.