Juan Soto's first season with the New York Yankees was almost everything they could have dreamed of.

He was brilliant (41 home runs, 237 combined runs and RBI), and so were they (94 wins, plus 147 runs differential). Although they narrowly missed their ultimate goal of losing the World Series to the Los Angeles Dodgers in five games, this was one of MLB's most productive partnerships in recent memory.

“We were definitely lucky to have him here,” Aaron Judge told reporters.

Of course, the question now shifts to whether the Yankees can keep him.

Free agency awaits Soto, and it's almost certain he'll end up with one of the richest contracts this league has ever seen. At this point, he's receiving Monopoly money – reaching or even exceeding the $500 million threshold seems possible – and although the Yankees could be close to signing his next contract, Soto isn't ready to commit to anything just yet .

He wants to play in the market and see what exactly everyone has to offer.

“I’m really happy with the city and the team, but at the end of the day we’ll see,” Soto said. “We will look at every situation and every offer we get. I don't know which teams will want to come after me, but I will definitely be open to listening to each and every team. I don’t have any doors closed or anything like that, so we’ll be available to all 30 teams.”

Granted, not all 30 teams can afford him, but several big spenders could chase him. While it is far too early to say how things will develop, it is by no means too early to suggest that an exit is possible.

For this reason, the Yankees have already drawn up plans for Plan B. Per Jon Heyman of the New York Postdo they believe they can potentially add “three to four stars” if they don’t re-sign Soto. The notable names being thrown around are definitely interesting.

New York could target bats and weapons in an offseason without Soto. Heyman's possible replacement plans included Pete Alonso (226 homers in the last six seasons), Anthony Santander (44 homers and 102 RBI this season), Alex Bregman (two-time All-Star and two-time World Series champion). , Corbin Burnes (four-time All-Star and former Cy Young) and Blake Snell (two-time Cy Young).

Add a combination of the above to what the Yankees have back — Judge, Gerrit Cole, Jazz Chisholm Jr., Giancarlo Stanton, Anthony Volpe, Jasson Domínguez, Carlos Rodón — and this team could be great.

It still wouldn't be the same as this season's squad. As intriguing as this backup plan sounds, there is a reason why it is the backup plan.

Soto is a top wattage star. He's on a short list of the league's best hitters and gives New York a cheat code combination in the lineup that beats Judge. Soto is also only 26 years old, which means that despite everything he's accomplished so far – four All-Star nominations, four Silver Slugger awards, three top-six finishes in MVP voting – it's entirely possible , that his best baseball is still ahead of him.

He looks like a generational talent from every angle, and it would be disappointing to see that kind of talent up close and then watch it disappear so quickly.

“It would be great to continue playing with him because he is definitely a special player,” Judge told reporters. “I think everyone in this room wants him back. … He just does a lot of the little things that people don't notice that really make him one of the best players, if not the best player in the game.”

Losing Soto wouldn't ruin this roster, but keeping him at almost any price imaginable would be the best possible outcome for the Pinstripes.