Juan Soto dugout stare, postgame answer send mixed messages about Yankees free agency

If New York Yankees fans were hoping for a loud hint from Juan Soto in the aftermath of the team's World Series Game 5 meltdown about his future plans, they certainly didn't receive it. But that was by design; Soto is the Scott Boras Client of all Scott Boras Clients, and he's very good at being wanted.

Still, though, nervous fans seeking clarity on either side of the argument could've found a moment that confirmed their priors on Wednesday night.

For those who want to believe that Soto's a Yankee for life, and will give Hal Steinbrenner an emotional edge in negotiations, look no further than his long, languid stare in the dugout. Soto stayed and watched the Dodgers' entire World Series celebration and dogpile. He was the final Yankee seated taking in the calamity of their own making. Ironically, we called this months ago.

If you'd like, you can take that to mean that he was seeking motivation for 2025, when he'd be returning to the Yankees to take care of unfinished business and remove the burden of embarrassment from his career in pinstripes.

Yankees' Juan Soto takes in Dodgers' celebration from dugout, but stays mum on free agency

Of course, you can also take it to mean that he was reflecting on the dream season spent playing for his childhood favorite team, aware that he may never return -- or, at least, that things were about to get a lot more complicated.

After the game, Soto fell short of wearing a Boras Corp hat like an unused Gerrit Cole after Game 7 of the World Series in Houston, but he certainly played things close to the chest emotionally.

When asked directly about the Yankees' perceived advantage in free agency, he coldly answered (with an overload of professionalism) that every team has the "same opportunities" -- as long as they want him.

The scene was reminiscent of the rumored Aaron Judge goodbye at the end of the 2022 season, when he thanked all Yankees reporters and personnel, hinting at a break in his career.

Of course, Judge returned because of loyalty and unfinished business. Soto is rightly motivated by paving a path for future free agents in his wake; more and more, it feels like he's being honest when he tells you he's seeking life-changing money, above all else.

It was hard not to read Wednesday's answers as Soto saying that he plans to sign with whichever team offers the highest bid. It is also hard to believe that will be the Yankees, given the rest of the likely interested parties. Perhaps Soto was gathering motivation for 2025, but there's no guarantee he'll put it to good use in the Bronx.

Or maybe he just wanted to watch his future team have an amazing time together.