Juan Soto contract only going up as Yankees enter World Series 2024

LOS ANGELES – By mid-April, Yankees Universe had seen enough of Juan Soto to know he should be in pinstripes, period.

On the eve of this World Series opener – which also happens to be Soto’s 26^th birthday – there’s the shadow of Soto’s impending free agency, and what it’ll cost to keep him in the Bronx.

Especially if Mets’ owner Steve Cohen is determined not to be outbid, though how could Hal Steinbrenner let a player who is already a franchise cornerstone leave in his prime?

“I feel really comfortable where I’m at,’’ Soto said on Thursday, before Friday night’s Game 1 here against the Dodgers.

But you won’t be surprised to learn that Soto is firmly rooted in the present, and “where I’m at is what I can do for this team,’’ and bringing a world titled to New York for the first time since 2009.

Juan Soto’s free agency is around the corner

That mega, free-agent payday is around the corner, “and definitely every player wants to be happy where they’re at,’’ said Soto. “Whenever you win, you’re really going to be happy.

“Wherever you are, if you have a chance to win…a championship, you’re going to be excited to play. I think that’s the biggest thing, that’s the biggest mindset right now.’’

While the Yankees should always provide that chance, you don’t hire Scott Boras as your agent to leave money on the table.

‘Pure Juan Soto fashion’:How the star delivered Yankees to the World Series

Soto turned down a $440 million, 15-year offer by the Washington Nationals, who traded him in midseason 2022 to the San Diego Padres, who in turn sent Soto to the Yankees last December.

That move was designed to accomplish one thing – get the Yankees to the World Series and win it, and Soto’s stock has only gone higher.

“Juan has obviously been a central figure for us all year,’’ said Yankees manager Aaron Boone, struck since spring training by Soto’s commitment to excellence and love of the game.

Built for the New York spotlight

Aaron Judge learned a little more about Soto’s mindset during a mid-May afternoon in Minnesota, finding the lefty hitter repeating a hitting drill over and over in an extra-early cage session.

Something didn’t feel right at the plate, Soto told the Yankees’ captain.

At the time, Soto was batting .310.

“It’s just tough at-bat after tough at-bat,’’ Judge said this October of batting behind Soto.

“I get a chance to see 8-12 pitches every single time I’m on deck (and) get a feel of what the pitcher (is doing), what’s working for him, what’s he trusting with two strikes.’’

What stands out is Soto’s uncanny ability to get on base, those heavy at-bats that wear down pitchers and lead to walks or mistakes that cause damage.

And Soto absolutely thrives in the spotlight; in the biggest moments, he wants to be at-bat.

“He hit an amazing home run that helped us clinch a ticket to the World Series,’’ Boone said of Soto’s 10^th-inning homer in Game 5 of the AL Championship Series at Cleveland – a textbook Soto AB, fouling off four pitches before that homer, creating an instant Yankee October classic.

“He’s proven to be an amazing teammate, a great person to get to know, and obviously a great player,’’ said Boone, adding that Game 1 “is about as far forward as we’re looking ahead right now.’’

Judge went through that free agent dance two years ago, and Game 1 starter Gerrit Cole had Boras negotiate his nine-year, $324 million free agent Yankee deal after the 2019 season.

“I certainly would love to see him stay,’’ Cole said of Soto. “I think he’s a wonderful player and an amazing talent.

“Hopefully, the actions of this organization, of both his teammates and everybody that pours into this club, speak for themselves in terms of how much we want him and what he means to us.

Soto already has one World Series ring, from his 2019 rookie season with the Nationals, in his age-19 season.

“At the end of the day, I love the game,’’ said Soto.

And at the end of this World Series, it’ll be the Yankees’ time to return that affection.