Yankees left to fill Juan Soto void after star pick Mets

DALLAS — With one decision, the world and personality of the Yankees has been changed.

They are no longer the bullying big brothers in the City.

They no longer have one of the best hitters in the world, one who is on a clear Hall of Fame trajectory.

They no longer have a plan A.

Juan Soto, who was beloved in his one season in The Bronx, is no longer a Yankee and is instead a Yankees villain.

Mark May 16 on your 2025 calendar for the first time he returns to Yankee Stadium.

He will be treated very differently than last time.

In a conclusion that felt stunning and yet not really surprising given the rival ownership, Soto has left the Yankees but not New York, agreeing to a monstrous, 15-year, $765 million deal with the Mets on Sunday night to kick things off in the winter meetings at the Hilton Anatole and definitely ticks off the Yankees.

Hal Steinbrenner & Co. raised their offer several times, maxing out at $760 million over 16 seasons, according to The Post’s Jon Heyman, but Steve Cohen’s pockets were too deep to engineer the biggest pact in baseball history.

The Yankees will have to replace one of the most entertaining and best bats in the game, one that partnered with Aaron Judge to destroy opposition pitching during his one year in The Bronx.

He led the league in runs, smashed 41 homers, posted a .989 OPS and only elevated his play in the postseason by carrying the club three wins short of a World Series title.

If the Yankees were hoping Soto’s comfort in the stadium and clubhouse would prove to be an advantage, they were wrong.

With no one available even close to Soto’s quality, the Yankees’ Plan B must focus on quantity.

The club has recently talked to top-of-the-rotation arms in Max Fried and Corbin Burnes.

If they can’t pair two of the most potent batters in the world to outscore opponents, maybe they can come up with a Gerrit Cole complement to outpitch opponents.

Burnes, who will likely earn more than Fried, should make upwards of $200 million.

Arguably the second best player on the market is no longer available after Willy Adames agreed to a contract with the Giants.

The Yankees, who have a need at third base or second base, could target Alex Bregman — proven and talented, but a foe from the 2017 Astros who is hated by the fanbase and would be a curious clubhouse fit — or explore the trade market for someone like Nolan Arenado or Alec Bohm.

After declining Anthony Rizzo’s option, the Yankees are also looking for a first baseman and could counter the Mets by swiping Pete Alonso.

Only Judge has hit more home runs since 2019 than Alonso, but the 30-year-old is coming off an offseason with concerns about how poorly first basemen age.

Other options here include Christian Walker, Paul Goldschmidt and Carlos Santana.

Without Soto and without a true center fielder, the Yankees could probably use more outfielders.

Teoscar Hernandez and Anthony Santander are the most attractive free agents, and lefty Joc Pederson would love the stadium.

The center market is bleak, which could push the club to make a deal for the Cubs’ Cody Bellinger, who is owed $27.5 million for next season.

Could a team that might not shut out the other team instead try to stifle it late in games?

How about adding back-end arms like Tanner Scott and Jeff Hoffman after losing Clay Holmes and Tommy Kahnle?

When the Yankees lost bidding for Robinson Cano after the 2013 season, they redirected funds to Carlos Beltran, Jacoby Ellsbury, Brian McCann and Masahiro Tanaka — a $458 million payout that had hits, costly misses and resulted in zero championships.

A theoretical version this winter could include Burnes, Bregman, Alonso, Santander, Bellinger and Scott for a total that could total around $650 million — or more than $100 million less than Soto.

The Yankees have options, heartbreak to be sure, and a pair of new nemeses — a superstar who felt at home in The Bronx but will call another borough home, and a rival owner who has announced himself as the most formidable financial force in sports.