Yankees pay off Anthony Rizzo’s contract and enter free agency

Among a list of important moves made just a couple of days after the World Series ended, the management of The New York Yankees ended their relationship with first baseman Anthony Rizzo after declining the option they had to retain him next season. This was announced by the team through their social networks.

Money question?

The Bronx Bombers would have refused to pay Rizzo the $17 million that was stipulated in a clause of the two-year, $40 million contract they agreed to in November 2022.

Instead, the Yankees will pay him $6 million.

“Wearing this jersey is something special that I wish every baseball player could feel, because it’s a different feeling wearing this jersey,” Rizzo said after Game 5 in which the Yankees lost the World Series.

Despite having said on multiple occasions that he wanted to finish his career in the Bombers’ pinstripes, Rizzo was also “realistic” on some occasions understanding that this season could have been his last with the team.

Rizzo played his third and final season with the Yankees after arriving in a trade with the Cubs in the middle of the 2021 season. A couple of injuries, one to his forearm and another due to a broken finger, only allowed him to play 92 games. all 162 games this season. In June, he injured his forearm when he collided with Red Sox pitcher Brennan Bernardino at Fenway Park, while his fractured fingers arose from a hit by a pitch in the penultimate game of the regular season.

The last injury led him to miss the Division Series, but he managed to return from the Championship Series and played in the World Series, rounds in which he batted 8 for 30 (.267) with a double and six walks.

During the regular season, Rizzo hit .228 with 12 doubles, eight home runs, 35 runs batted in and 27 walks, numbers obtained after a campaign in which he only played 99 games due to neck and elbow problems and a concussion that ended its season in early August.

¿Pete Alonso a Yankees?

Given Rizzo’s departure, some rumors are beginning to suggest the Yankees’ intention to sign the stellar first baseman of their neighbors Mets, Pete Alonso. “The Polar Bear” also ended his contract with his team and will enter free agency for the first time in his career.

Alonso, Rookie of the Year in 2019 and two-time Home Run Derby champion, would be Plan B in case the Yankees do not reach an agreement with outfielder Juan Soto, according to insider Jon Heyman. Soto would be looking for a historic contract around $600 million.

In addition to Alonso, the Yankees could be considering other options for some quality defensive first basemen such as Christian Walker and Paul Goldschmidt.

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