According to multiple outlets, Anthony Rizzo will back with the Yankees on a multi-year contract. Ken Rosenthal of the Athletic was the first to report the agreement. Rizzo had just rejected the Yankees’ qualifying offer before agreeing on the new deal to bring him back to the Pinstripes.
Rizzo will earn $34 million over the next two seasons, plus a club option for 2025 whichwill include a $6 million buyout, total guaranteed to $40 million. His option for 2025 is worth $17 million.
Rizzo was acquired from the Chicago Cubs at the 2021 trade deadline and returned to New York for the 2022 season on a two-year, $32 million contract with an opt-out clause after the first year.
New York acquired Rizzo at the 2021 trade deadline and re-signed him to a two-year contract last offseason after a strong second half of that season. Rizzo, on the other hand, had an opt-out clause that he used this year to successfully earn a longer commitment from the team. After opting out of the second year, he became a free agent.
Rizzo quickly became a favorite teammate of many current Yankees, including free agent Aaron Judge. During the recently concluded GM Meetings, Yankees general manager Brian Cashman stated that keeping Rizzo was a priority, along with re-signing Judge.
Despite a .224 batting average, Rizzo hit 32 home runs for the fourth time in his career and had 75 RBIs in 130 games.
Between August 31 and September 18, the 33-year old was sidelined by back pain and headaches caused by an epidural injection to treat his back.
Rizzo’s home runs accounted for 40% of the Yankees’ 77 by left-handed batters, and his RBIs accounted for 37% of New York’s 202 by lefties.
