Anthony Rizzo is Returning to The Bronx
Yankees resign 1B Anthony Rizzo to a 2 year / $32 million deal via FanSided
The move to bring back Anthony Rizzo from the Yankees is not a surprise to anyone. Rizzo was acquired by the Yankees at last year’s trade deadline. When he was shipped to the Bronx, Rizzo made an immediate impact. He did slow down a bit after his arrival, but he seemed to blossom in his role as a veteran in the clubhouse. He not only is a fan favorite, but a team favorite. The Yankees love Rizzo’s presence around this team, and he might have just given Aaron Judge his extension. With the Yankees now out on Superstar 1B, Freddie Freeman, Rizzo’s contract gives the Bombers flexibility to begin those talks with the face of the franchise, Aaron Judge. Anthony Rizzo will be making $32 million over the next two years with an opt-out included after the first year.
Anthony Rizzo’s 2021 in Pinstripes
Anthony Rizzo played his first game in a Yankees uniform when the team met to play the Miami Marlins on July 30 of 2021. His first three games with the team were nothing short of unbelievable. He went 5-for-9 with 5 R, 2 HR, and 3 RBI. Rizzo slowed down a bit after a great stretch and finished the 2021 season with a .249 BA, .768 OPS, and 8 HR. His offensive stats didn’t wow you, but Rizzo’s defense was a breath of fresh air for Yankee fans.
Anthony Rizzo’s Future in the Bronx
With the resigning of Anthony Rizzo, it is clear the Yankees are miles better defensively. The Yankees lost a bit of defense at the hot corner but Josh Donaldson’s bat more than makes up for that bit of defense. Rizzo coming back to the Big Apple is going to sure up that 1B position for at least two years, giving the Yankees security over there. Rizzo’s 2022 projected stats, from fan graphs, looks like this.
.259 BA, .827 OPS, 26 HR, all while posting a 2.9 WAR
With Rizzo projected to do better in 2022, that gives the Yankees their clubhouse guy along with a solid lefty bat to break up the righty dominate Yankees. The biggest takeaway from this signing is the money. The Yankees resigning Rizzo might come as a disappointment to fans due to Matt Olson and Freddie Freeman being on the market, but not as disappointed they would be if the Yankees threw a cheap offer at Aaron Judge. With this signing, it gives the Yankees more than enough flexibility to extend Aaron Judge as well as make other moves.