First baseman Anthony Rizzo signed a two-year extension contract with the New York Yankees earlier this year owing to his 32 homer season in 2022. Rizzo was expected to regain his All-Star-level competitiveness in 2023. However, injuries got the better of him, as he could only feature in 99 games this season.
Rizzo will turn 35 this year, which could prompt the Yankees to pull the plug. He will earn $17 million through 2024, with an immediate return uncertain since the baseman is still recovering from post-concussion syndrome. So, will the Yanks swap him for a young infielder during the upcoming off-season?
Anthony Rizzo Could Be Traded This Off-Season In An Ideal Swap Deal!
In May this year, Anthony Rizzo remained the New York Yankees player of the month owing to a robust offensive resurgence. However, after the collision with Tatis Jr., the baseman’s form went downhill. He played through post-concussion syndrome for two months before the medical team’s official diagnosis. The damage was already done, and thus, Rizzo was imminently shut down for the season. Having said that, a return before the 2024 season opening day seems unlikely for the Yankee veteran. Thus, the Bombers have the option to swap him for a younger alternative. Rizzo is nearing Father’s time as he will ring in his 35th birthday next year. His prime years have already passed. Moreover, the Yanks want to build a relatively younger team to secure the franchise’s long-term future.
Thus, Anthony Rizzo does not fall in the New York Yankees’ future plans and could be traded next off-season. Speaking of options, the Chicago White Sox are mulling roster overhaul and remain willing to listen to offers for almost every roster member. Andrew Vaughn could become a person of interest. The 25-year-old first baseman hit .258 with 21 homers, 80 RBIs, and .743 OPS across 152 games in 2023. His RBI rate suggests that he is capable of driving runners in scoring position, which is precisely what Yankee captain Aaron Judge wants. Moreover, Andrew will be eligible for arbitration in 2024, which makes it easy for the Bombers to secure a lucrative deal. Out of all the options, Andrew Vaughn seems the ideal like-for-like replacement for Anthony Rizzo in the study Yankee lineup.
Trading Gleyber Torres Could Be A Big Mistake From Yankees This Off-Season!
In a season where everything went downhill for the New York Yankees, infielder Gleyber Torres emerged as the guiding light. With a lot to prove, he finished the season as the team’s second-best offensive performer. However, despite recent success, rumors claim that Torres could be traded after all.
Having said that, trading Gleyber Torres at this point seems unreasonable. The market for second basemen isn’t that great. Moreover, the in-house candidate, Oswald Peraza, does not seem ready to take up a full-time job at second base. Undoubtedly, Torres’ defensive lapses are a matter of concern. But his offensive contributions could benefit the Yankees in the long run.