Aaron Choose will understandably dominate most Yankee-centric headlines for the foreseeable future, however he’s not the one pinstriped slugger who’ll have the chance to discipline curiosity from different golf equipment this offseason. First baseman Anthony Rizzo’s two-year, $32MM contract with the Yankees contained even salaries of $16MM per 12 months and permits the longtime Cubs star to say no a 2023 participant choice and return to the open market if he chooses. The Athletic’s Jim Bowden writes that Rizzo is planning on doing simply that, which isn’t an enormous shock given the season that Rizzo put collectively within the Bronx.
Rizzo, 33, did publish a low batting common however piled up walks and extra-base hits en path to a .224/.338/.480 batting line by way of 548 journeys to the plate in 2022. He slugged 32 house runs, knocked 21 doubles and even chipped in a triple and 6 stolen bases. His 18.4% strikeout charge was his highest since 2014 however was nonetheless properly shy of the 22.4% league common. Equally, his 10.6% stroll charge was an excellent bit greater than the league-average mark of 8.2%. All in all, wRC+ (which adjusts for his house park and league-wide offensive atmosphere) pegged Rizzo’s bat at 32% higher than a mean hitter.
On the defensive facet of the coin, Rizzo’s once-sterling defensive grades have taken a tumble, however to not the purpose the place he should be thought of a legal responsibility. He checked in with damaging marks in Defensive Runs Saved (-3) and Outs Above Common (-2) however did so over the course of greater than 1000 innings. Rizzo has battled again accidents the previous couple seasons, which might assist to elucidate a few of the downturn with the glove. He obtained an epidural injection this summer season and later started experiencing migraines, which price him a pair weeks of motion. Rizzo went 3-for-6 with a homer in his return contest following that IL stint.
Rizzo performed in 11 fewer video games in 2022 than in 2021, however at the least with regard to his offensive efficiency, his 2022 season was higher throughout the board. He had barely extra strikeouts however confirmed considerably extra energy (.256 ISO to .192), hitting extra house runs in fewer plate appearances (32 vs. 22) and strolling extra typically (10.6% vs. 9%). Total, it was his greatest offensive exhibiting since 2019. Although he will probably be one other 12 months older in 2023, the incoming ban on defensive shifts ought to profit him. As a left-handed hitter with out a lot velocity, a few of his grounders that had been simple outs in 2022 might flip into singles going ahead.
On condition that this 12 months’s manufacturing fairly handily outpaced his 2021 output, there’s little purpose to suppose Rizzo shouldn’t be capable of anticipate at the least the identical sort of two-year, $32MM pact he signed with the Yankees final offseason. The one state of affairs that may affect his incomes energy could be if he had been to choose out and be saddled with a qualifying provide, however the $19.65MM worth of this 12 months’s QO represents a noticeable bump from the $16MM he’s scheduled to earn in 2023. Rizzo could be sensible to say no the participant choice if solely to push the Yankees to make that QO and put himself able to safe that elevate. In the event that they don’t make the QO, then one other two- and even three-year deal might properly be current for the slugger in free company.
Bowden means that Rizzo wish to return to the Bronx on an extended deal. If that curiosity is reciprocated by the membership, maybe they might work one thing out even when the QO is concerned. Such a state of affairs performed out a couple of years in the past when the White Sox gave a QO to Jose Abreu, who accepted it, however then they agreed to a three-year deal a couple of week later.
The Yankees have a great deal of uncertainty with their infield image for subsequent 12 months, with not many gamers locked in. Josh Donaldson had a tough 12 months on the plate and is about to show 37, making it attainable the Yanks look to maneuver on from the final 12 months of his contract. Gleyber Torres was first rate at second however ought to see his contract rise to the $10MM vary through arbitration. He’s nonetheless value an funding like that however the membership might additionally look to commerce him and commit these assets to different elements of the roster. DJ LeMahieu ought to consider right here someplace however he completed 2022 on the IL and can flip 35 subsequent 12 months. He’s in all probability greatest suited to a utility position versus an on a regular basis gig. Shortstop is an enormous thriller with Isiah Kiner-Falefa having a usually strong season with the glove however a couple of errors within the postseason price him some enjoying time. There are kids out there to take his job in Oswald Peraza, Oswaldo Cabrera and Anthony Volpe however none of these guys have confirmed themselves locks to be MLB-capable simply but.
If Rizzo does certainly set off his opt-out, it could create another challenge for the Yankees to take care of on the filth. If they can give him a contract that entices him to remain, it could be one step in direction of stabilizing issues. If the events can’t discover widespread floor, the alternate options out there to the Yankees on the free agent market embrace Abreu, Josh Bell and Trey Mancini, amongst others.
