Juan Soto says the Yankees have no advantage if he leaves in free agency

The Yankees' season is over and Juan Soto's free agency begins.

And if that was all Soto had as a Yankee, it ended in ugly fashion, as the Yankees suffered one of their worst losses in franchise history with a season-ending 7-6 loss to the Dodgers in Game 5 of the World Series.

Asked if he thought this was his last home game in the Bronx, Soto said: “You never know. We'll see where we stand. It will definitely be a difficult game, being my last.”

That's the next drama as the 26-year-old star enters free agency for the first time and made it clear again Wednesday night that the Yankees have no advantage over any other team pursuing him.

“I feel like every team has an equal opportunity,” Soto said. “I don’t want to say anyone has an advantage.”

He repeated the same sentiment throughout his season with the Yankees, and a trip to the World Series — the second of his career — didn't change that.

“I don’t know all the teams that are after me, but I’m definitely open to listening,” Soto said. “I didn’t lock any doors. I’m available to all 30 teams.”

With Scott Boras as his agent, it's clear Soto is interested in becoming the highest bidder, but he also wants to win – something he did with the Yankees.

In Game 5, Soto reached base four times in a row and scored twice, but with the Yankees trailing by a run in the bottom of the eighth, he led off with a weak grounder to first as they were unable to recover after The Dodgers had taken the lead in the top of the eighth.

His memorable go-ahead home run in the ALCS, which helped send the Yankees to the World Series in Cleveland, won't soon be forgotten, but it wasn't followed by a title.

Soto would certainly welcome a reunion, but it will only come at a cost to him – and that of agent Scott Boras.

“I hope he stays here forever,” Aaron Boone said, a sentiment shared throughout the clubhouse. “But I also know that I am happy for him and know what the next few months mean for him.”

All year long, stadium crowds chanted “re-sign Soto,” and he often responded to the serenades from fans in right field.

At the end of the season there was no defeat.

Asked if fan reaction might persuade him to stay, Soto said with a grin: “Maybe it will influence the ownership decision.”

Soto only increased his price during his season with the Yankees after arriving from San Diego in December.

A career-best 41 home runs in the regular season was followed by an impressive postseason that ended Wednesday.

It remains to be seen whether his days of wearing pinstripes are over.

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Soto never had a problem adjusting during his New York stay and has been one of his favorites from opening day to now.

Soto's Game 5 began with a one-out walk in the bottom of the first, setting up Aaron Judge's only home run of the series, a two-run shot.

He walked again in the second inning and hit a single through the right side of the infield in the fourth inning, although the Yankees did not score in any of those innings.

The right fielder drew another walk to lead off the bottom of the sixth, scoring the go-ahead run on Giancarlo Stanton's sacrifice fly.

But he couldn't deliver in the eighth after the bullpen gave up the lead.