The Yankees lost in the Bronx on Sunday, and the frustration spilled into the eighth inning at Yankee Stadium, where fans could be heard chanting, "F-ck Juan Soto!" against the Miami Marlins. The chant was loud enough to carry on the YES broadcast.
It was a sharp turn for a player who had just one season in pinstripes before making his free agency decision, and who took the most money on the market. Soto also helped drive the Yankees to their first World Series since 2009, making the boos sound less like outrage over a betrayal than anger over a breakup the club helped set in motion.
That context matters because the backlash is not built on a player disappearing in the middle of nowhere. Soto was a major contributor during his brief stint with the Yankees, and he has remained cool with Aaron Judge since his departure. In other words, the anger in the stands says more about the fan base’s mood than about any rupture between the two sides.
Read Also: Where To Watch Athletics (baseball) Vs New York Yankees Live on Prime Video
The Yankees now have to live with the noise that followed a home loss, and with a reminder that one of their most important recent players can still pull the crowd into a harsh chorus. The next round of this story will not be about what Soto said; it will be whether the Bronx keeps treating him like a villain every time he comes back.
