New York Yankees

Actor Wendell Pierce said he left Game 5 of the World Series at Yankee Stadium due to unruly fan behavior.

Pierce, whose acting credits include The Wire, Treme and Elsbeth, posted Wednesday on X that he "just left the Yankees game because I was talking to a Dodgers fan and people were throwing things at me." He called it "the worst experience ever."

Fans of the Dodgers and Yankees both generated some controversy this postseason.

The second game of the National League Division Series matchup between Los Angeles and the San Diego Padres was briefly brought to a halt after fans in the outfield seats threw objects at Padres outfielders Jurickson Profar and Fernando Tatis Jr.

Then in the World Series, two Yankees fans were ejected after interfering with Dodgers star Mookie Betts as he made a catch along the right field wall. One of the fans attempted to pry the ball out of Betts' glove, while another grabbed his right wrist.

Los Angeles brought the 2024 Fall Classic to a close with an improbable comeback from a 5-0 deficit in the Big Apple. A pair of sacrifice flies brought home the tying and winning runs in the eighth inning as the Dodgers captured their eighth title.

Gerrit Cole didn't try to hide his feelings after the New York Yankees' defensive implosion in the fifth inning of Game 5 of the World Series helped spur the Los Angeles Dodgers to a 7-6 win and their eighth title in franchise history.

Speaking to reporters after the game, Cole put this loss at the top of his personal list of defeats.

"This is like as bad as it gets," Cole said.

The Yankees looked like they were going to cruise to victory and force a Game 6 back in Los Angeles. They jumped out to a 5-0 lead by scoring in each of the first three innings, including back-to-back homers from Aaron Judge and Jazz Chisholm Jr. in the first.

Cole held the Dodgers lineup to no hits and two walks on just 49 pitches through four innings. Enrique Hernández broke up the no-hitter with a leadoff single in the fifth.

That was when the floodgates opened because Tommy Edman's liner to center field should have been an easy out, but it hit off the thumb of Aaron Judge's glove to put runners on first and second.

Will Smith reached on a fielder's choice when Anthony Volpe attempted to get a force out at third base, but he hopped the throw and Chisholm was unable to get the ball in his glove.

Cole looked like he would escape the situation by striking out Gavin Lux and Shohei Ohtani, but Anthony Rizzo waited back on Mookie Betts' weak grounder with two outs and was unable to get to the bag in time for the out.

The Dodgers would score five unearned runs in the inning to tie the game. After the Yankees retook the lead in the sixth on Giancarlo Stanton's sacrifice fly, the Dodgers loaded the bases with no outs to start the eighth against Tommy Kahnle.

Yankees closer Luke Weaver came in trying to escape the damage, but he gave up two sac flies that put the Dodgers back on top. New York was unable to plate another run over its final two turns at-bat, ending the game and the 2024 MLB season.

Per MLB.com's Sarah Langs, the five-run comeback for the Dodgers is the largest ever in a World Series-clinching game.

This was the second time in the series that the Yankees blew a lead. They were up 3-2 Game 1 in the eighth inning before the Dodgers tied it and eventually won in the 10th on Freddie Freeman's walk-off grand slam.

Cole is still searching for his first World Series title. This was his second appearance in the Fall Classic and first since 2019 when he was with the Houston Astros when they lost to the Washington Nationals in seven games.

The Yankees haven't won a World Series since 2009.

While most of the focus following the end of the season for the New York Yankees is going to be on Juan Soto's free agency, they could be in the market for a new first baseman with Anthony Rizzo possibly not coming back in 2025.

Speaking to reporters after a 7-6 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 5 of the World Series, Rizzo didn't have a concrete answer when asked about his future in the Bronx.

"I don't know what the future will [hold]," Rizzo said. "Talk with Cash, see what they're thinking. We have a lot left to give in this game in a lot of different ways."

It will be unfortunate of the final memory Yankees fans have of Rizzo is the defensive miscue on a Mookie Betts grounder in the fifth inning of Wednesday's loss that helped spur a five-run inning for the Dodgers to tie the score.

The Yankees committed two errors in the fifth before Rizzo's play, so he wasn't the only player at fault for what happened. He was also one of their better hitters throughout this postseason with a .267/.421/.300 slash line in 38 plate appearances over 10 games.

Rizzo has had a pragmatic view of things given his age, injury concerns and performance this season. He acknowledged prior to Game 4 of the World Series that the series "could very well be" his last game in Yankee pinstripes.

"I'm a realist. I'm not naive to it," Rizzo said. "But I think all that will shape out when the time is right. It's more just driving to the field and being with this group that means the most to me."

The Yankees hold a $17 million team option on Rizzo's contract for next season. It seems highly unlikely they will pick that up, especially since their 2025 payroll estimates are already brushing up against the competitive balance tax before they even start negotiating what could be a historic contract for Soto.

Rizzo had the worst season of his career in which he played at least 50 games in 2024. He hit .228/.301/.335 with eight homers in 337 at-bats and ranked last among 25 first baseman with at least 350 plate appearances in wRC+ (85).

Even though the Yankees don't have an obvious replacement at first base on the roster, it wouldn't be hard to find another player who could give even the same level of production as Rizzo did in 2024.

The Yankees could also decline Rizzo's option and attempt to bring him back at a lower salary than the $17 million figure.

There are a lot of big decisions for general manager Brian Cashman and the front office in New York to make this offseason after a run to the World Series that ended in disappointing fashion for the franchise.

In the aftermath of a disappointing end to their 2024 season, the focus for the New York Yankees now shifts to hoping they can keep Juan Soto as he prepares to hit free agency for the first time in his career.

Following their 7-6 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 5 of the World Series, Aaron Judge said the Yankees were "lucky" to have Soto this year and experssed hope they can keep him going forward.

There is no reason the Yankees can't keep Soto, but there are questions of whether or not ownership will want to take that financial leap. Spotrac estimates they already have $249.5 million in salary commitments for next season when including arbitration projections.

MLB's competitive balance tax for 2025 is set at $241 million. If Soto's deal ends up being close to $50 million in annual value, the Yankees would be paying close to $300 million before factoring in penalties for being over the CBT for the fourth straight year.

Yankees managing general partner Hal Steinbrenner told reporters in May that the team's current payroll was "simply not sustainable for us financially" because of the tax penalties they had to pay.

Steinbrenner did make those comments long before the Yankees made a run to the World Series for the first time since 2009, but he's also been far more financially conservative with payroll than his father, George, since taking over day-to-day operations of the club in November 2008.

Everyone expected Soto would do well for the Yankees when he was acquired from the San Diego Padres in December 2023, but he managed to exceed a lot of the hype. The four-time All-Star hit .288/.419/.569 with a career-high 41 homers in 157 games during the regular season.

Soto added to his Yankees lore with a fantastic postseason performance. He hit .327/.469/.633 in 14 games and became a New York icon with his go-ahead home run in the 10th inning of Game 5 of the ALCS against the Cleveland Guardians that sent the Yankees to the World Series.

Of course, Soto's high level of production combined with being just 26 years old means he is going to cash in with a huge contract this offseason.

Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic and Fox Sports recently said on Foul Territory that Soto's average annual salary on his next deal is "going to start with a five."

Per The Athletic's Jim Bowden, executives around MLB anticipate Soto's deal will land somewhere between $550 million and $650 million in total value.

Shohei Ohtani is currently the only player with an average annual salary of at least $45 million and total value contract worth more than $430 million.

The pairing of Soto and Judge was the most productive duo in MLB. Their combined 20.3 FanGraphs' wins above replacement was the highest by any teammates in 2024.

It would seem foolish to break them up at this point after the season both of them had, but the Yankees are going to have to fight if they want to keep Soto in 2025 and beyond.

New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone hopes the team breaks out the checkbook for Juan Soto this offseason.

"I hope he's here forever, but I also know I'm excited for him and what the next few months are for him," Boone told reporters when discussing the impending free agent after Wednesday's World Series loss. "But from my standpoint, I couldn't have asked for better."

He isn't the only one who hopes Soto returns, as Aaron Judge said, "I think everybody in this room wants him back. ... He just does a lot of the little things that people don't notice that truly make him one of the best players, if not the best player in the game."

For his part, Soto said he was "open to listen to every single team" while 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 because of his individual excellence, as he slashed .288/.419/.569 with 41 home runs, 109 RBI and a league-best 128 runs before hitting .327 with four home runs in 14 postseason games.

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

That combination of skill, proven production and age means Soto is in line to receive a massive deal this offseason.

New York has always been known as a team willing to spend what it takes to have some of the league's best players, 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 anything but a surprise after Soto's impressive season.

Let the Juan Soto sweepstakes begin.

All eyes now turn toward the slugger's impending free agency after his New York Yankees lost the World Series to the Los Angeles Dodgers. He was asked about his mindset going into the offseason after Wednesday's Game 5 and didn't close the door on any teams.

"I feel like every team has the same opportunities when I go into free agency," Soto told reporters.

He was also specifically asked about the New York Mets and echoed those thoughts when he said, "I don't know what's the teams that are going to come after me. Definitely, I'll be open to this and every single team. I don't have any doors closed. I"m gonna be available for all 30 teams."

For his part, Yankees teammate Aaron Judge expressed his hope Soto would return to the Bronx Bombers and said, "We were definitely lucky to have him here, and it would be great to keep playing with him because he's definitely a special player."

While Soto kept his options wide open with the comments, the reality is every team will not be in the running to sign him.

ESPN's Jesse Rogers noted he likely won't reach the $700 million deal Shohei Ohtani received from the Dodgers last offseason but will still ink a contract that "will certainly be rich."

Soto was even asked about possibly signing a deal for more than $600 million and said, "It's a lot of money that people are talking about here and there, but definitely we are going to shake it out."

There are only a handful of teams in the league that will even entertain such a deal for one player, and the two in New York are likely on the list.

After all, the Mets and Yankees topped the league in 2024 payrolls with the Houston Astros, Philadelphia Phillies and Dodgers rounding out the top five. The Mets make sense as a potential destination, as he is already familiar with New York and could provide the missing piece to help them take the next step after reaching the National League Championship Series.

Pete Alonso is also an impending free agent, meaning they could be in the market for another slugger if the power hitter leaves.

They also fit the bill as a team in the middle of a winning window, which Soto said is important.

"I feel like everybody wants to be on a winning team," he said. "That's one of the biggest things that you look up to. You want to be part of this. Even if you don't make it to the last team standing, you want to be involved in all these [games], so I think that's one of the biggest things I'm looking for."

Soto is the rare generational superstar who is available in free agency in the middle of what figures to be his peak at 26 years old. He already has a list of accomplishments that includes a World Series title, a batting title, four Silver Sluggers and four All-Star Game nods, and he was excellent this past season for the Yankees.

He slashed .288/.419/.569 with 41 home runs, 109 RBI and a league-best 128 runs and then hit .327 with four home runs in 14 postseason games as New York reached the World Series.

The next team that signs him could have him for more than a decade. To hear him tell it, that could be any team.

The New York Yankees had Game 5 of the World Series under control, leading 5-0 after three innings. But a series of mind-boggling defensive errors and the inability to generate much more offense beyond the early flurry led to a shocking 7-6 loss, as the Los Angeles Dodgers capitalized on the mistakes and clinched a title in Yankee Stadium.

"I'm heartbroken," an emotional Aaron Boone told reporters after the game. "It doesn't take away my pride of what that means to me and what that group forged this year, and what we've been through to get here. But I'm heartbroken. And I'm heartbroken for those guys that poured so much into this. The ending is cruel."

Boone said the clubhouse was initially closed to reporters after the game as Yankees players consoled one another following the difficult loss.

The fifth inning, in particular, was brutal for the Yankees. Aaron Judge dropped a routine fly ball in center field, Anthony Volpe made a throwing error attempting to get a force out at third base and Gerrit Cole didn't cover first base on a weak ground ball, allowing Mookie Betts to beat Anthony Rizzo at the bag and extend the inning.

When the dust had settled from those mistakes, the Dodgers pushed five runs across the plate, evening the game.

"Obviously, we had a rough inning tonight," Boone said regarding the fifth.

It was a frame that will live on in New York sports infamy. Perhaps the Yankees wouldn't have pulled off the reverse sweep even if they had won Game 5, with the final two games of the series back at Dodger Stadium. But they didn't give themselves the chance to find out.

The New York Yankees are expected to pick up their option on manager Aaron Boone's contract and bring him back next season.

SNY's Andy Martino provided the scoop after the Yankees fell 7-6 in Game 5 of the World Series to the Los Angeles Dodgers, cementing the National League champions' five-game Fall Classic victory.

"As such, Boone is expected back as manager in 2025, despite how the World Series went, according to multiple sources with direct knowledge of the team's thinking," Martino wrote. "That would have been the case even if the Yankees had been swept.

"The Yankees hold an option on Boone for next season. To avoid a lame duck year, it would be logical to follow the pennant-winning season with a contract extension."

Boone has been the Yankees' manager since 2018. He's led the Yankees to six playoff appearances, three AL East titles and one AL pennant.

The Yankees have mostly fared well in the regular season under Boone, with the team posting winning seasons each year. New York notably hasn't had a losing campaign since 1992.

But playoff success has largely eluded the Yankees until this year. Overall, New York is just 22-23 in the postseason with Boone as the manager.

Expectations were high this year with the Yankees holding the No. 1 seed in the American League playoffs. Per Martino, "word around the Yankees was that the team had to win at least one round, and probably two, in order for manager Aaron Boone to keep his job."

New York did that, beating the Kansas City Royals and Cleveland Guardians to get to the World Series. The Yankees also got to the Fall Classic for the first time since 2009 with relative ease, winning seven of nine games.

The World Series was a bitter disappointment, though. A mix of sloppy defense, faltering relief pitching, baserunning errors and dormant hitting ultimately led to the Yankees losing in five.

In addition, Boone's decision to bring in Nestor Cortes, who hadn't pitched since Sept. 18 due to an elbow flexor strain, in Game 1 proved costly. Cortes ultimately gave up a game-ending grand slam to eventual World Series MVP Freddie Freeman, turning a potential 3-2 win into a 6-3 loss in 10 innings.

If you're wondering whether Yankees brass thought that decision was grounds for an axing, they reportedly didn't, per Martino.

"Sometimes external noise infiltrates the Yankee offices and influences decisions, and the volume on this one was loud.

"But we checked: Yankees brass did not view Boone's call for Cortes as a blunder, but as a close decision that could have gone either way. If some folks in the building would have left Luke Weaver in the game (as Boone suggested he might have), or called on lefty specialist Tim Hill, Boone's bosses understood the solid rationale behind the Cortes move.

"In other words, it was a million miles from a fireable offense, in the eyes of the folks making that decision."

Boone has certainly been a lightning rod for criticism at times, and the team's lack of October success follows him. But there ultimately was little-to-no doubt that he'd be brought back when the team made the World Series, something the club hadn't accomplished yet under his tenure. Parting ways with him now would send an odd message when the Yankees could have let him go after less successful years, namely the 82-80 season in 2023.

So the Yanks will go into 2025 with Boone leading the way, perhaps with an extension in tow. The biggest question is whether the team can re-sign superstar Juan Soto, an impending free agent.

But other thoughts loom, namely how New York can clean up the sloppy defense and poor baserunning that haunted it all season, with the former ultimately costing the Yanks Game 5 and a shot at a miracle 3-0 comeback in the World Series. It'll apparently be on Boone to help figure that out.

The New York Yankees season is over after a 7-6 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 5 of the World Series.

A handful of errors and miscues were the story as New York blew a 5-0 lead to lose the game and extend its World Series drought another year.

The Yankees carried their offensive momentum from Tuesday night into Game 5 as Aaron Judge hit his first home run of the series in the first inning, a two-run shot to give New York an early 2-0 lead. Jazz Chisholm Jr. hit another the next at-bat to make it 3-0.

The Yankees were firmly in the driver's seat through three innings thanks to an RBI single from Alex Verdugo and a solo home run from Giancarlo Stanton to make it 5-0, but New York quickly collapsed.

Gerrit Cole allowed five Dodgers runs in the fifth inning, putting Los Angeles right back in the game and negating the Yankees' hot start. Stanton hit a sac fly in the sixth to regain the lead, but a pair of runs from Los Angeles in the eighth meant New York went into the bottom of the eighth down a run.

The Yankees got two on base in the bottom of the eighth after Judge doubled and Chisholm drew a walk, but they couldn't bring anyone across the plate. In the bottom of the ninth, Walker Buehler sat the bottom of New York's lineup down in order to clinch the World Series victory.

After the loss, fans called out manager Aaron Boone for the blown lead.

It would have been an improbable comeback for the Yankees after going down 3-0 in the series, but Boone's mismanagement didn't make forcing a Game 6 any easier.

Now, the Yankees have a long offseason ahead of them.