Yankees' Juan Soto looking forward to one thing after free agency

New York Yankees outfielder Juan Soto indicated during his All-Star Game media availability on Monday that he hopes to enjoy some career stability after he signs his next contract.

"It's a little uncomfortable wearing different jerseys and changing teams," Soto said in Spanish, as shared by Jorge Castillo of ESPN. "I'm looking forward to wearing one for a long time."

Soto offered similar comments before the start of the season and months after he joined the Yankees from the San Diego Padres via a trade. The 25-year-old repeatedly has done well to publicly commit to nothing other than featuring for the Yankees through the rest of the ongoing campaign, and it was reported last week that team owner Hal Steinbrenner and others in the New York front office "do seem to be convinced now" that Soto will reach free agency after the season.

As for the Yankees, they played like the best team in all of MLB at points of the spring before they endured a summer slump and limped into the All-Star break at 58-40. New York will begin the second half of the season trailing the first-place Baltimore Orioles by a single game in the American League East standings.

"Who wouldn't want to be with a team that wins? For me, while you're on a winning team, it's always good to be there and be a part of it," Soto said about his uncertain future.

Castillo mentioned that the Washington Nationals, New York Mets, Philadelphia Phillies, Boston Red Sox and Chicago Cubs are "expected to compete with the Yankees for Soto's services" later this year. Soto played for the Nationals from 2018 through part of the 2022 season but more recently has been heavily linked by some with the Mets.

The Mets could elect to let All-Star first baseman Pete Alonso test free agency this fall so that they can pay Soto.

"If I knew the future," Soto added during his comments, "I would play the lottery. Nobody knows the future. At the end of the day, I'm enjoying this moment, representing the New York Yankees. ... I'm very happy to be part of (the game), but nobody knows what will happen next year."

As of Tuesday morning, DraftKings Sportsbook listed the Yankees third among the betting favorites at +550 odds to win the 2024 World Series. The Bronx Bombers even participating in this year's Fall Classic could help convince Soto to stay put via what could become a historic contract.