NEW YORK — The Yankees wouldn’t have acquired Cody Bellinger if they were able to retain Juan Soto in free agency this past winter. They wouldn’t have needed another outfielder, certainly not for the price tag that was attached to the former MVP.

According to The Athletic’s Tyler Kepner, Aaron Boone made his way through the ballpark's bowels while the Mets took batting practice and the buzz built inside Yankee Stadium. In the tunnel between the clubhouses, with pallets of water and hot dog buns stored against the walls, Boone carried the rings in a Yankees shopping bag.

The SNY booth had a good chuckle about a Yankees fan who brought a big photo of Soto’s face with a “Boo this man!” caption on tap and “Boooooooo” written beneath the photo to Friday night’s 6-2 Yankees’ triumph in the opener of the three-game subway series in The Bronx.