New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone is hoping the team gets the checkbook out for Juan Soto this offseason.

“I hope he stays here forever, but I also know that I’m excited for him and what the next few months have in store for him,” Boone told reporters when discussing the impending free agent following the loss spoke at the World Series on Wednesday. “But from my perspective, I couldn’t have asked for anything better.”

He’s not the only one hoping Soto comes back, as Aaron Judge said: “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.”

For his part, Soto said he was “open to listening to every single team,” adding that he would like to sign with a winning club.

The Yankees were a winning club after trading for him last offseason.

They reached the World Series in large part due to his individual excellence, as he slashed .288/.419/.569 with 41 home runs, 109 RBI and a league-best 128 runs batted in before hitting .327 with four home runs in 14 postseason games .

It was another exciting season for someone who is just 26 years old and has a resume that includes a World Series title, a batting title, four Silver Sluggers and four All-Star Games.

This combination of skill, proven performance and age means Soto can land a huge contract this offseason.

New York has always been known for being a team willing to spend what it takes to have some of the best players in the league, and this past season was no different. The New York Mets were the only team with a higher payroll in 2024, and Soto could end up deciding between the two teams in the Big Apple.

Boone made his preference clear, which was far from a surprise after Soto’s impressive season.