Stanton is under contract through 2028, but Soto is a free agent this offseason. The former knows how important it is that the Yankees make re-signing Soto priority No. 1 this offseason. “We need him to stay. He’s going to stay. We need to bring it home, and then we’ll bring him home also,” Stanton said to Bryan Hoch after the clinching Game 5.

Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton, and Juan Soto . Those three were the first-, third-, and fourth-highest compensated Yankees this season, respectively (ace Gerrit Cole prevented the sweep), and it's fair to write they earned every cent owed to them during the ALCS.

With a three-run homer by Juan Soto in the 10th inning of Game 5, the Yankees return to the World Series for the first time since 2009.