Following the acquisition of Juan Soto, the New York Yankees were poised to become one of MLB’s most formidable offensive teams this season.
However, this expectation hasn’t fully materialized, with the team performing somewhat averagely in terms of batting average and slugging percentage compared to the rest of the league. Several key players have struggled to replicate their career-best numbers at the plate.
One such player is Anthony Rizzo, the first baseman who joined the team on a two-year, $40 million deal in 2022. So far this season, Rizzo has posted a batting line of just .263/.329/.429 in 133 at-bats, a decline from his career average of .263/.363/.473 over 14 years.
Consequently, Ken Rosenthal, a trusted insider for The Athletic’s MLB coverage, has suggested that the Yankees might explore entering the upcoming free-agency market to pursue Pete Alonso as a potential upgrade over Rizzo.
“In the unpredictable realm of free agency, anything is possible,” Rosenthal penned. “Soto might find himself donning a Mets jersey, while Alonso could potentially step in to fill Anthony Rizzo’s shoes for the New York Yankees.”
The New York Yankees may have the financial flexibility to add Pete Alonso to their roster.
The Yankees hold a third-year, $17 million club option on Rizzo’s contract, paving the way for a potentially intriguing replacement at first base for the 2025 season. Alonso, currently avoiding arbitration with a $20.5 million salary this season, indicates that the average annual value of his next contract could be similar to Rizzo’s option for the following season.
However, securing Alonso would necessitate a significantly larger and longer-term commitment compared to opting into Rizzo’s final year or exploring more financially conservative options in the free-agent market. Alonso’s next contract is expected to span at least eight years and reach a nine-figure sum.
“In the spring of 2022, I projected an extension for Alonso at eight years and $160 million, featuring a mutual option or opt-out after six years and $108 million,” Tim Britton wrote for The Athletic. “By spring 2023, my estimate rose to nine years and $207 million. The longer you wait, the higher the cost.”
It’s evident that Alonso offers greater potential upside, being five years younger than Rizzo and boasting stronger career slugging statistics. However, his slower start to the 2024 season could potentially impact the eventual terms of his contract.
Alonso currently holds a batting line of .205/.293/.417 in 132 at-bats this season, compared to his career average of .249/.339/.522 over six years.
The New York Yankees might find themselves in competition with the New York Mets in a potential bidding war for Pete Alonso.
If the Yankees believe Alonso can maintain his productivity beyond this season and are aiming to improve upon Rizzo, they might encounter bidding competition from their neighboring rival.
“All indications suggest Alonso will become a free agent after the season and explore his options, and I’m certain the Mets will be engaged in the bidding,” Mike Axisa stated for CBS Sports. “To what extent? That’s yet to be determined. Alonso’s performance (along with the team’s performance) in the meantime will undoubtedly factor into this.”
The Yankees could potentially free up to $100 million in salary between this season and the next, offering flexibility in how they allocate it. While re-signing Soto appears to be their top priority, if that option isn’t feasible, they may seek to fill the void left by his bat with other standout players from the free-agent pool.