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Tag: home run

  • MLB free-agent tracker: Sluggers Cody Bellinger, Kyle Tucker and Kyle Schwarber head the list

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    Kyle Schwarber, 33, DH, 4.7, 19.9: Schwarber is a premier slugger with 187 home runs in four seasons with Philadelphia, where he also was an exceptional clubhouse leader. He is pretty much restricted to designated hitter and is approaching an age where offensive production might decline. He still merits a lucrative multi-year deal, although going longer than four years at a $30 million average annual value (AAV) might be inviting buyer’s remorse by 2030.

    Kyle Tucker, 29, OF, 4.5, 27.3: Although his 2025 bWAR was lower than that of Bellinger and Schwarber, Tucker might have the highest sticker price in this free-agent class. The average of projections from 20 ESPN experts is 10 years and $391.5 million for a $38.8 million AAV. The Dodgers are considered a prime suitor because of their deep pockets and need for a productive corner outfielder.

    Eugenio Suárez, 34, 3B, 3.6, 26.8: A drop of nearly one win above replacement from the top three free agents — Bellinger, Schwarber and Tucker — still puts Suárez in an enviable position. Splitting the season between the Diamondbacks and Mariners, Suarez tied a career high with 49 home runs and drove in 118 runs.

    Alex Bregman, 32, 3B, 3.5, 43.1: Even though Bregman’s bWAR was slightly lower than that of Suárez, he should command a larger deal because he’s younger and more well-rounded. Bregman missed 44 games because of injury in his single season in Bosto but put up solid numbers. His average bWAR over his 10-year career is 4.3.

    Trent Grisham, 29, OF, 3.5, 14.6: Grisham is an enigma, a first-round draft pick who blossomed with the Padres only to crater and bat under .200 three years in a row. He rebounded in 2025, swatting a career-high 34 home runs with the Yankees. Grisham also has two Gold Gloves in center field.

    Bo Bichette, 28, SS, 3.4, 20.8: Bichette showed his toughness by playing effectively in the World Series despite a lingering knee injury. Bichette can flat-out hit, accumulating more than 175 hits in four of the last five seasons with above-average power. He also plays a premium position and will turn only 28 in March, meaning he could command a contract exceeded only by that of Tucker.

    Toronto Blue Jays’ Bo Bichette hits a three-run home run during Game 7 of the World Series, Nov. 1, 2025, in Toronto.

    (Ashley Landis/AP)

    Pete Alonso, 31, 1B, 3.4, 23.3: Alonso was disappointed by the tepid interest in him as a free agent last offseason, re-signing with the Mets on a one-year, $30-million deal with a player option. He’s expected to test the market again after once again posting the glittering power numbers that have made him a fan favorite in New York for seven years.

    Josh Naylor, 28, 1B, 3.1, 8.4: The 5-foot-10, 235-pound left-handed slugger produced well in 2025 while splitting the season between the Diamondbacks and Mariners, batting a career-high .295 and hitting precisely 20 home runs for the third time in five seasons.

    Gleyber Torres, 29, 2B, 2.9, 18.7: Torres needed to restore his value after taking a one-year deal with the Tigers following a ho-hum 2024 season with the Yankees. He did so incrementally and should land a measured multi-year deal this time around.

    J.T. Realmuto, 35, C, 2.6, 38.8: Realmuto is recognized as one of the top-hitting catchers in baseball, and he’s clearly the top free-agent backstop, proving in 2025 that he can still catch upward of 130 games while putting up solid offensive numbers. Still, he will be 35 on opening day and his .700 OPS was his lowest in a decade.

    Jorge Polanco, 32, 2B, 2.6, 20.7: Polanco hit 26 home runs and posted an .821 OPS, the switch-hitter’s best season since 2021 when he hit 33 homers and drove in 98 runs. Chronic knee problems have put his shortstop days behind him and cut into his range at second or third base, but the bat still plays.

    Mike Yastrzemski, 35, OF, 2.6, 16.8: Although the grandson of Hall of Famer Carl Yastrzemski posted his best OPS (.839) since the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, he might be entertaining only contract offers of one year at $10 million or so.

    Ryan O’Hearn, 31, 1B/DH, 2.4, 3.1: O’Hearn is an accomplished left-handed hitter coming off a season split between the Orioles and Padres. He can expect a large raise from the $3.5 million he made in 2025, perhaps tripling it.

    Marcell Ozuna, 35, OF/DH, 1.6, 29.5: Ozuna is a proven power bat who has exceeded 20 home runs in nine seasons and led the NL with 18 homers and 56 RBIs in pandemic-shortened 2020. After tremendous 2023 and 2024 seasons in which he totaled 79 homers and 204 RBIs, Ozuna slipped in 2025, batting .232 with 21 home runs while battling hip pain.

    Luis Arráez, 29, 1B, 1.3, 16.5: Arráez doesn’t get much love from bWAR or fWAR, but he sure can hit, leading all major leaguers with a .317 lifetime average. He led the NL with 181 hits in 2025, but because he doesn’t hit for power or walk much, his OPS was a pedestrian .719. The three-time batting champion should continue to be paid about $14 million a year, with the question becoming for how long.

    Paul Goldschmidt, 38, 1B, 1.2, 63.8: Goldschmidt boasts the highest career bWAR of any free-agent hitter and he has made it clear that he is not ready to retire. His productivity, however, is trending downward, especially his power. With only 10 homers and 45 RBIs in 534 plate appearances with the Yankees last season, Goldschmidt is no longer an elite hitter.

    Victor Caratini, 32, C, 0.9, 4.3: Catchers are at a premium in this free-agent class and Caratini is one of the few with a potent bat and ability to play more than 100 games in a season. He most recently delivered on a two-year, $12-million deal with the Astros and could land a similar contract because of the scarcity of backstops.

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    Steve Henson

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  • Kyle Freeland on Rafael Devers home run trot that started brawl: “Extremely disrespectful”

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    Kyle Freeland barked, but the Rockies didn’t have enough bite.

    Falling behind 2-0 and losing their starter to a self-inflicted ejection eight pitches into the game, the Rockies never fully recovered Tuesday in a 7-4 loss to San Francisco — their 100th of the year.  That makes Colorado the first franchise since the 2011-13 Houston Astros to lose 100 games in three consecutive seasons.

    “Was tonight 100?” manager Warren Schaeffer said.

    With dozens of dogs among an announced Coors Field attendance of 18,934, the Giants scored all seven runs via the long ball, none more dramatic than the first. After Freeland served up a towering two-run shot to Rafael Devers two batters into the game, the Rockies lefty interrupted Devers’ slow home run trot, aggressively urging him to hurry it up.

    “Extremely disrespectful to show me up like that in the first inning after hitting a home run. Standing there, watching it, taking your sweet time getting down to first base,” Freeland said afterward, emphasizing that he would understand if the celebration occurred after a clutch home run in the late innings. “I’ve been in this league quite some time, and I know he has as well. I just find that extremely disrespectful, and I felt that I needed to let him know about that.”

    Devers hadn’t even reached first base yet. His freshly flipped bat barely had any time to cool down on the grass before tempers heated up around it. The former Red Sox slugger shouted back at Freeland and veered away from the base path. Dugouts and bullpens emptied.

    What followed probably wouldn’t qualify as a brawl according to the old-school definition of the word — but it did include a series of shoves, instigated by Giants first baseman Matt Chapman on Freeland. Then it was a mess of hands indistinguishable from one another. In the end, Freeland, Chapman and Giants shortstop Willy Adames (responsible for a second mini-skirmish) were thrown out.

    “I was slightly surprised to be ejected,” Freeland said. “I understand that I was the one who instigated it, so that right there is grounds for ejection. I understand that. Slightly surprised, but also not, because I understand the rules.”

    Devers was sent back to first base to belatedly finish his home run trot while Antonio Senzatela warmed up to replace Freeland, even though Freeland said afterward that Devers also shoved him.

    “I don’t know why Chapman and Adames got ejected. I’m assuming it was because they came up and shoved me,” Freeland said. “Devers also shoved me. That’s the spot that I don’t understand why he wasn’t ejected.”

    Schaeffer commended the umpires for how they handled the conflict, saying he expected Freeland to be ejected after the benches cleared. When asked if he thought Devers’ celebration was excessive, the Rockies manager said he didn’t see that part.

    “Happens a lot in today’s game, but those things are subjective,” Schaeffer said. “A guy like (Freeland) has been pitching a long time. I think he felt disrespected, and he did what he did. At the end of the day, when your starter doesn’t get an out in the first inning and he’s out of the game, that hurts the ballclub. That hurts the ballclub. And he knows that.”

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    Bennett Durando

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  • Cal Raleigh hits 50th homer, joining Mickey Mantle as switch-hitters to reach mark

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    Cal Raleigh hits 50th homer, joining Mickey Mantle as switch-hitters to reach mark

    So this is not the bat that the Yankees were using to pound out 36 runs in 3 games. This is not *** torpedo bat. This is like *** traditional bat. Yeah, if that’s the bat they were using, we wouldn’t be talking about. Oh there you go. What is going on here with this? I, so basically the Yankees have apparently over for 2 years have been working on this, and they have figured out. That all the all the rules say *** bat needs to be is it can’t be bigger than *** certain length it can’t be fatter than *** certain, but otherwise, as long as it’s ***. Straight stick that the fattest part fits within these measurements and they’re hitting it out they they move the barrel basically down and they’re taking guys like Anthony Volpe where they collect so much data now, right? They know where Anthony Volpe typically hits right and if he’s not consistently hitting it on the barrel. Their solution was let’s not teach Anthony Volpe to hit different. Let’s just move the barrel. So they basically so simple bats that are customized to these hitters and to where they’re making contact. It’s, I mean, it’s very unusual and when they come out of the gate like this with *** 20 run game where, you know, like 9 homers in the game, it’s gonna get *** whole lot of attention, but by the rules this seems to be allowed. It’s just wild to see *** team do it and come out like this, right? And it’s the Yankees. Oh, it’s the Yankees, Chad. So, um, so there’s gonna be *** tension there anyway, but it’s, it’s fascinating. And I mean, who, you know, is this something that’s gonna catch on? We’re, I think everybody 2 my other teams my outlet included are all trying to chase this going where, where is this going, you know.

    Cal Raleigh hits 50th homer, joining Mickey Mantle as switch-hitters to reach mark

    Updated: 12:15 AM EDT Aug 26, 2025

    Editorial Standards ⓘ

    Cal Raleigh hit his 50th homer on Monday night, extending his major league record for home runs by a catcher and entering some elite company.Raleigh joined Mickey Mantle as the only switch-hitters to hit 50 homers in a season, and he became the eighth player in major league history to reach the half-century mark in August.Video above: Baseball writer explains new ‘torpedo’ bats in MLBBatting from the right side, the Big Dumper sent a 3-2 fastball from San Diego’s JP Sears 419 feet into the second deck in left field.He’s the second Mariners player to hit 50 homers in a season. Hall of Famer Ken Griffey Jr. hit 56 in 1997 and again in ’98.Raleigh has three homers in the past two games. He hit Nos. 48 and 49 during Sunday’s 11-4 win over the Athletics. Salvador Perez had the previous record for homers by a catcher with 48 in 2021.

    SEATTLE —

    Cal Raleigh hit his 50th homer on Monday night, extending his major league record for home runs by a catcher and entering some elite company.

    Raleigh joined Mickey Mantle as the only switch-hitters to hit 50 homers in a season, and he became the eighth player in major league history to reach the half-century mark in August.

    Video above: Baseball writer explains new ‘torpedo’ bats in MLB

    Batting from the right side, the Big Dumper sent a 3-2 fastball from San Diego’s JP Sears 419 feet into the second deck in left field.

    He’s the second Mariners player to hit 50 homers in a season. Hall of Famer Ken Griffey Jr. hit 56 in 1997 and again in ’98.

    Raleigh has three homers in the past two games. He hit Nos. 48 and 49 during Sunday’s 11-4 win over the Athletics. Salvador Perez had the previous record for homers by a catcher with 48 in 2021.

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  • New York Yankees defeat Cleveland Guardians, advance to World Series

    New York Yankees defeat Cleveland Guardians, advance to World Series

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    Juan Soto’s arrival last winter was supposed to be that move that pushed the New York Yankees back to the top.They’re one step away.Video above: After postseason run, what’s next for new Royals ballpark?Soto hit a three-run homer with two outs in the 10th inning and the Yankees advanced to their 41st World Series — and first in 15 years — by beating the Cleveland Guardians 5-2 in Game 5 of the AL Championship Series on Saturday night.Baseball’s biggest brand is going back to October’s main stage.Soto, who was acquired in a seven-player trade from San Diego in December, pushed the Bronx Bombers into position with one big swing.This was why he came, for this moment and for so many more.“We’re right where we belong,” said Yankees general manager Brian Cashman, who pulled off the deal for Soto.The Yankees will try to win their 28th title against either the New York Mets or Los Angeles Dodgers. Game 6 of the NL Championship Series is on Sunday at Dodger Stadium.In the third consecutive tight game in three nights at Progressive Field, Austin Wells walked with one out in the 10th, and Alex Verdugo followed with a grounder to Guardians second baseman Andrés Giménez, whose soft toss to the bag was dropped by rookie shortstop Brayan Rocchio for an error.Hunter Gaddis struck out Gleyber Torres and had Soto in a 1-2 count before New York’s stylish outfielder sent a shot over the wall in center. Soto danced down the first-base line and paused to celebrate with his teammates before circling the bases.“I was just saying to myself, ‘You’re all over that guy. You’re all over that guy. He ain’t got anything,’” said Soto, who moved alongside his manager, Aaron Boone, as the only New York players to homer in an extra-inning, series-clinching win.Luke Weaver got the final three outs with Lane Thomas flying out for the last one, which was caught by Soto.“We get to play for a world championship,” Boone said. “That’s pretty sweet.”The 25-year-old Soto is eligible for free agency this winter, and Yankees fans chanted, “Re-sign Soto!” during the postgame festivities. He’s expected to get a contract upward of $600 million, and his heroics in Game 5 may have raised his price.Giancarlo Stanton hit a two-run homer and was named ALCS MVP as the Yankees took care of the Guardians in five games. It wasn’t easy.New York won the first two at Yankee Stadium without much fanfare or any major drama. However, it was a different story in Cleveland, as all three games at Progressive Field were nail-biters.The Guardians rallied to win Game 3 on two two-run homers in their last two at-bats, and the Yankees held on to win Game 4 after blowing a four-run lead.”This was a rollercoaster and we were able to just keep punching back,” Stanton said. “We know there’s much more work to do and it’s only uphill from here and we got to get it done.”Cleveland just didn’t have enough, and a surprising season under first-year manager Stephen Vogt ended just short of a World Series. The franchise remains without a title since 1948, baseball’s current longest drought.“There’s only one team that gets to win the last game of the year, and unfortunately, it’s not going to be us,” Vogt said. “But we accomplished a lot as a group. We got better. We worked extremely hard. I couldn’t be more proud of this group. We just didn’t get quite as far as we wanted to.”The Yankees are back in the World Series, back where their fans expect them to be every year.The club’s 82-80, fourth-place finish in the AL East last season led to some “soul searching as an organization” during the winter, according to Boone, who has been widely criticized but is one of just three managers to take New York to the playoffs in six of his first seven seasons.While the team’s core stayed mostly intact, getting Soto in a blockbuster trade on Dec. 7 — New York sent five players to San Diego for the three-time All-Star — accelerated the team returning to title contender.“That was a good day,” Boone said with a laugh before the game.Stanton’s 446-foot rocket into the left-field bleachers tied it at 2 in the sixth and chased Tanner Bibee, who had struck out New York’s dangerous DH in his first two at-bats and held the Yankees scoreless for the first five innings.It was Stanton’s fourth homer in this series — his third in three days — and his 16th in the postseason, moving him into fourth place on the club’s career list behind Bernie Williams (22), Derek Jeter (20) and Mickey Mantle (18).Before the game, Boone was asked what makes Stanton so good.“He can hit it harder than anyone, first of all,” Boone said. “So there’s the physical nature of what he does that’s different than just about everyone in the world.”But Boone went on to compliment Stanton’s discipline at the plate, “his approach, his process, how he studies guys.”“There’s something that he does when he gets familiarity with people on top of being very physically gifted,” Boone said.The Guardians took a 2-0 lead in the fifth off Carlos Rodón on Steven Kwan’s RBI single with two outs. But Cleveland missed a big chance for more, leaving the bases loaded when Lane Thomas grounded out on the first pitch to him from Mark Leiter Jr.Trainer’s roomYankees: LHP Nestor Cortes (elbow strain) had another successful live batting practice session. The reliever remains on track to join the Yankees on their World Series roster. Boone said Cortes would throw again early next week. Cortes went 9-10 with a 3.77 ERA in 30 starts.

    CLEVELAND —

    Juan Soto’s arrival last winter was supposed to be that move that pushed the New York Yankees back to the top.

    They’re one step away.

    Video above: After postseason run, what’s next for new Royals ballpark?

    Soto hit a three-run homer with two outs in the 10th inning and the Yankees advanced to their 41st World Series — and first in 15 years — by beating the Cleveland Guardians 5-2 in Game 5 of the AL Championship Series on Saturday night.

    Baseball’s biggest brand is going back to October’s main stage.

    Soto, who was acquired in a seven-player trade from San Diego in December, pushed the Bronx Bombers into position with one big swing.

    This was why he came, for this moment and for so many more.

    “We’re right where we belong,” said Yankees general manager Brian Cashman, who pulled off the deal for Soto.

    The Yankees will try to win their 28th title against either the New York Mets or Los Angeles Dodgers. Game 6 of the NL Championship Series is on Sunday at Dodger Stadium.

    In the third consecutive tight game in three nights at Progressive Field, Austin Wells walked with one out in the 10th, and Alex Verdugo followed with a grounder to Guardians second baseman Andrés Giménez, whose soft toss to the bag was dropped by rookie shortstop Brayan Rocchio for an error.

    Hunter Gaddis struck out Gleyber Torres and had Soto in a 1-2 count before New York’s stylish outfielder sent a shot over the wall in center. Soto danced down the first-base line and paused to celebrate with his teammates before circling the bases.

    “I was just saying to myself, ‘You’re all over that guy. You’re all over that guy. He ain’t got anything,’” said Soto, who moved alongside his manager, Aaron Boone, as the only New York players to homer in an extra-inning, series-clinching win.

    Luke Weaver got the final three outs with Lane Thomas flying out for the last one, which was caught by Soto.

    “We get to play for a world championship,” Boone said. “That’s pretty sweet.”

    The 25-year-old Soto is eligible for free agency this winter, and Yankees fans chanted, “Re-sign Soto!” during the postgame festivities. He’s expected to get a contract upward of $600 million, and his heroics in Game 5 may have raised his price.

    Giancarlo Stanton hit a two-run homer and was named ALCS MVP as the Yankees took care of the Guardians in five games. It wasn’t easy.

    New York won the first two at Yankee Stadium without much fanfare or any major drama. However, it was a different story in Cleveland, as all three games at Progressive Field were nail-biters.

    The Guardians rallied to win Game 3 on two two-run homers in their last two at-bats, and the Yankees held on to win Game 4 after blowing a four-run lead.

    “This was a rollercoaster and we were able to just keep punching back,” Stanton said. “We know there’s much more work to do and it’s only uphill from here and we got to get it done.”

    Cleveland just didn’t have enough, and a surprising season under first-year manager Stephen Vogt ended just short of a World Series. The franchise remains without a title since 1948, baseball’s current longest drought.

    “There’s only one team that gets to win the last game of the year, and unfortunately, it’s not going to be us,” Vogt said. “But we accomplished a lot as a group. We got better. We worked extremely hard. I couldn’t be more proud of this group. We just didn’t get quite as far as we wanted to.”

    The Yankees are back in the World Series, back where their fans expect them to be every year.

    The club’s 82-80, fourth-place finish in the AL East last season led to some “soul searching as an organization” during the winter, according to Boone, who has been widely criticized but is one of just three managers to take New York to the playoffs in six of his first seven seasons.

    While the team’s core stayed mostly intact, getting Soto in a blockbuster trade on Dec. 7 — New York sent five players to San Diego for the three-time All-Star — accelerated the team returning to title contender.

    “That was a good day,” Boone said with a laugh before the game.

    Stanton’s 446-foot rocket into the left-field bleachers tied it at 2 in the sixth and chased Tanner Bibee, who had struck out New York’s dangerous DH in his first two at-bats and held the Yankees scoreless for the first five innings.

    It was Stanton’s fourth homer in this series — his third in three days — and his 16th in the postseason, moving him into fourth place on the club’s career list behind Bernie Williams (22), Derek Jeter (20) and Mickey Mantle (18).

    Before the game, Boone was asked what makes Stanton so good.

    “He can hit it harder than anyone, first of all,” Boone said. “So there’s the physical nature of what he does that’s different than just about everyone in the world.”

    But Boone went on to compliment Stanton’s discipline at the plate, “his approach, his process, how he studies guys.”

    “There’s something that he does when he gets familiarity with people on top of being very physically gifted,” Boone said.

    The Guardians took a 2-0 lead in the fifth off Carlos Rodón on Steven Kwan’s RBI single with two outs. But Cleveland missed a big chance for more, leaving the bases loaded when Lane Thomas grounded out on the first pitch to him from Mark Leiter Jr.

    Trainer’s room

    Yankees: LHP Nestor Cortes (elbow strain) had another successful live batting practice session. The reliever remains on track to join the Yankees on their World Series roster. Boone said Cortes would throw again early next week. Cortes went 9-10 with a 3.77 ERA in 30 starts.

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  • New York Yankees defeat Cleveland Guardians, advance to World Series

    New York Yankees defeat Cleveland Guardians, advance to World Series

    [ad_1]

    Juan Soto’s arrival last winter was supposed to be that move that pushed the New York Yankees back to the top.They’re one step away.Video above: After postseason run, what’s next for new Royals ballpark?Soto hit a three-run homer with two outs in the 10th inning and the Yankees advanced to their 41st World Series — and first in 15 years — by beating the Cleveland Guardians 5-2 in Game 5 of the AL Championship Series on Saturday night.Baseball’s biggest brand is going back to October’s main stage.Soto, who was acquired in a seven-player trade from San Diego in December, pushed the Bronx Bombers into position with one big swing.This was why he came, for this moment and for so many more.“We’re right where we belong,” said Yankees general manager Brian Cashman, who pulled off the deal for Soto.The Yankees will try to win their 28th title against either the New York Mets or Los Angeles Dodgers. Game 6 of the NL Championship Series is on Sunday at Dodger Stadium.In the third consecutive tight game in three nights at Progressive Field, Austin Wells walked with one out in the 10th, and Alex Verdugo followed with a grounder to Guardians second baseman Andrés Giménez, whose soft toss to the bag was dropped by rookie shortstop Brayan Rocchio for an error.Hunter Gaddis struck out Gleyber Torres and had Soto in a 1-2 count before New York’s stylish outfielder sent a shot over the wall in center. Soto danced down the first-base line and paused to celebrate with his teammates before circling the bases.“I was just saying to myself, ‘You’re all over that guy. You’re all over that guy. He ain’t got anything,’” said Soto, who moved alongside his manager, Aaron Boone, as the only New York players to homer in an extra-inning, series-clinching win.Luke Weaver got the final three outs with Lane Thomas flying out for the last one, which was caught by Soto.“We get to play for a world championship,” Boone said. “That’s pretty sweet.”The 25-year-old Soto is eligible for free agency this winter, and Yankees fans chanted, “Re-sign Soto!” during the postgame festivities. He’s expected to get a contract upward of $600 million, and his heroics in Game 5 may have raised his price.Giancarlo Stanton hit a two-run homer and was named ALCS MVP as the Yankees took care of the Guardians in five games. It wasn’t easy.New York won the first two at Yankee Stadium without much fanfare or any major drama. However, it was a different story in Cleveland, as all three games at Progressive Field were nail-biters.The Guardians rallied to win Game 3 on two two-run homers in their last two at-bats, and the Yankees held on to win Game 4 after blowing a four-run lead.”This was a rollercoaster and we were able to just keep punching back,” Stanton said. “We know there’s much more work to do and it’s only uphill from here and we got to get it done.”Cleveland just didn’t have enough, and a surprising season under first-year manager Stephen Vogt ended just short of a World Series. The franchise remains without a title since 1948, baseball’s current longest drought.“There’s only one team that gets to win the last game of the year, and unfortunately, it’s not going to be us,” Vogt said. “But we accomplished a lot as a group. We got better. We worked extremely hard. I couldn’t be more proud of this group. We just didn’t get quite as far as we wanted to.”The Yankees are back in the World Series, back where their fans expect them to be every year.The club’s 82-80, fourth-place finish in the AL East last season led to some “soul searching as an organization” during the winter, according to Boone, who has been widely criticized but is one of just three managers to take New York to the playoffs in six of his first seven seasons.While the team’s core stayed mostly intact, getting Soto in a blockbuster trade on Dec. 7 — New York sent five players to San Diego for the three-time All-Star — accelerated the team returning to title contender.“That was a good day,” Boone said with a laugh before the game.Stanton’s 446-foot rocket into the left-field bleachers tied it at 2 in the sixth and chased Tanner Bibee, who had struck out New York’s dangerous DH in his first two at-bats and held the Yankees scoreless for the first five innings.It was Stanton’s fourth homer in this series — his third in three days — and his 16th in the postseason, moving him into fourth place on the club’s career list behind Bernie Williams (22), Derek Jeter (20) and Mickey Mantle (18).Before the game, Boone was asked what makes Stanton so good.“He can hit it harder than anyone, first of all,” Boone said. “So there’s the physical nature of what he does that’s different than just about everyone in the world.”But Boone went on to compliment Stanton’s discipline at the plate, “his approach, his process, how he studies guys.”“There’s something that he does when he gets familiarity with people on top of being very physically gifted,” Boone said.The Guardians took a 2-0 lead in the fifth off Carlos Rodón on Steven Kwan’s RBI single with two outs. But Cleveland missed a big chance for more, leaving the bases loaded when Lane Thomas grounded out on the first pitch to him from Mark Leiter Jr.Trainer’s roomYankees: LHP Nestor Cortes (elbow strain) had another successful live batting practice session. The reliever remains on track to join the Yankees on their World Series roster. Boone said Cortes would throw again early next week. Cortes went 9-10 with a 3.77 ERA in 30 starts.

    CLEVELAND —

    Juan Soto’s arrival last winter was supposed to be that move that pushed the New York Yankees back to the top.

    They’re one step away.

    Video above: After postseason run, what’s next for new Royals ballpark?

    Soto hit a three-run homer with two outs in the 10th inning and the Yankees advanced to their 41st World Series — and first in 15 years — by beating the Cleveland Guardians 5-2 in Game 5 of the AL Championship Series on Saturday night.

    Baseball’s biggest brand is going back to October’s main stage.

    Soto, who was acquired in a seven-player trade from San Diego in December, pushed the Bronx Bombers into position with one big swing.

    This was why he came, for this moment and for so many more.

    “We’re right where we belong,” said Yankees general manager Brian Cashman, who pulled off the deal for Soto.

    The Yankees will try to win their 28th title against either the New York Mets or Los Angeles Dodgers. Game 6 of the NL Championship Series is on Sunday at Dodger Stadium.

    In the third consecutive tight game in three nights at Progressive Field, Austin Wells walked with one out in the 10th, and Alex Verdugo followed with a grounder to Guardians second baseman Andrés Giménez, whose soft toss to the bag was dropped by rookie shortstop Brayan Rocchio for an error.

    Hunter Gaddis struck out Gleyber Torres and had Soto in a 1-2 count before New York’s stylish outfielder sent a shot over the wall in center. Soto danced down the first-base line and paused to celebrate with his teammates before circling the bases.

    “I was just saying to myself, ‘You’re all over that guy. You’re all over that guy. He ain’t got anything,’” said Soto, who moved alongside his manager, Aaron Boone, as the only New York players to homer in an extra-inning, series-clinching win.

    Luke Weaver got the final three outs with Lane Thomas flying out for the last one, which was caught by Soto.

    “We get to play for a world championship,” Boone said. “That’s pretty sweet.”

    The 25-year-old Soto is eligible for free agency this winter, and Yankees fans chanted, “Re-sign Soto!” during the postgame festivities. He’s expected to get a contract upward of $600 million, and his heroics in Game 5 may have raised his price.

    Giancarlo Stanton hit a two-run homer and was named ALCS MVP as the Yankees took care of the Guardians in five games. It wasn’t easy.

    New York won the first two at Yankee Stadium without much fanfare or any major drama. However, it was a different story in Cleveland, as all three games at Progressive Field were nail-biters.

    The Guardians rallied to win Game 3 on two two-run homers in their last two at-bats, and the Yankees held on to win Game 4 after blowing a four-run lead.

    “This was a rollercoaster and we were able to just keep punching back,” Stanton said. “We know there’s much more work to do and it’s only uphill from here and we got to get it done.”

    Cleveland just didn’t have enough, and a surprising season under first-year manager Stephen Vogt ended just short of a World Series. The franchise remains without a title since 1948, baseball’s current longest drought.

    “There’s only one team that gets to win the last game of the year, and unfortunately, it’s not going to be us,” Vogt said. “But we accomplished a lot as a group. We got better. We worked extremely hard. I couldn’t be more proud of this group. We just didn’t get quite as far as we wanted to.”

    The Yankees are back in the World Series, back where their fans expect them to be every year.

    The club’s 82-80, fourth-place finish in the AL East last season led to some “soul searching as an organization” during the winter, according to Boone, who has been widely criticized but is one of just three managers to take New York to the playoffs in six of his first seven seasons.

    While the team’s core stayed mostly intact, getting Soto in a blockbuster trade on Dec. 7 — New York sent five players to San Diego for the three-time All-Star — accelerated the team returning to title contender.

    “That was a good day,” Boone said with a laugh before the game.

    Stanton’s 446-foot rocket into the left-field bleachers tied it at 2 in the sixth and chased Tanner Bibee, who had struck out New York’s dangerous DH in his first two at-bats and held the Yankees scoreless for the first five innings.

    It was Stanton’s fourth homer in this series — his third in three days — and his 16th in the postseason, moving him into fourth place on the club’s career list behind Bernie Williams (22), Derek Jeter (20) and Mickey Mantle (18).

    Before the game, Boone was asked what makes Stanton so good.

    “He can hit it harder than anyone, first of all,” Boone said. “So there’s the physical nature of what he does that’s different than just about everyone in the world.”

    But Boone went on to compliment Stanton’s discipline at the plate, “his approach, his process, how he studies guys.”

    “There’s something that he does when he gets familiarity with people on top of being very physically gifted,” Boone said.

    The Guardians took a 2-0 lead in the fifth off Carlos Rodón on Steven Kwan’s RBI single with two outs. But Cleveland missed a big chance for more, leaving the bases loaded when Lane Thomas grounded out on the first pitch to him from Mark Leiter Jr.

    Trainer’s room

    Yankees: LHP Nestor Cortes (elbow strain) had another successful live batting practice session. The reliever remains on track to join the Yankees on their World Series roster. Boone said Cortes would throw again early next week. Cortes went 9-10 with a 3.77 ERA in 30 starts.

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