In the wake of multiple other teams extending some of their stars, the Yankees were able to re-sign Anthony Rizzo for a two-year, $40,000,000 contract.
When the regular season wrapped up, Rizzo had quite a few eyes on him. Coming off quite a successful year in his second season with the Yankees, Rizzo was slated to be a free agent at the end of the 2022 season.
Ever since Rizzo’s trade to the Yankees in 2021, the organization, and fanbase alike, collectively gravitated toward his personality and more importantly, his performance. Recently known as more of a line-drive hitter, Rizzo found a power stroke that he hasn’t had in the last few seasons.
Finishing with 32 home runs in the regular season, it was the first time since 2017 that he hit more than 30. The only downside of his performance throughout the season was his uncharacteristically low batting average. He only posted a .224 average, which is over 40 points lower than his career average. However, his discipline at the plate remained largely the same and he rarely struggled to put bat-on-ball consistently.
What This Means for the Yankees
With Rizzo re-signed for a two-year deal, it guarantees that they have a consistent option to cover first base for two more seasons. The Yankees are in desperate need of consistent offense, and Rizzo has proven throughout his career that he is a very consistent in his performance.
He isn’t going to smash league leading numbers in home runs or batting average, but his is someone that the Yankees can count on.
His defense is certainly not something to overlook either. In his career, he has garnered four Gold Glove awards and also the National League Platinum Glove award in 2016. Since he put a Yankee uniform on, he has also continued to exhibit top-tier defense at his position.
“I Love Being a Yankee”
Not only is Rizzo a player that the Yankees needed to extend this offseason, but Rizzo needed the Yankees too. In a conference after inking his two-year deal with the organization, a reporter begged the question as to why he would return to New York.
“The main reason why I wanted to come back is because I love being a Yankee”
Rizzo offered a comment after being asked why he re-signed with the Yankees
He not only loves to play the game of baseball, but he also enjoys playing in New York. Team chemistry is something that can be of great value for the dynamic of the group. Rizzo radiates with good energy for the clubhouse, which is a great benefit for not only himself but his teammates as well.
Proven to be an excellent fit for the Yankees organization, fans are eager to watch him perform, lead the team, and laugh in the next two seasons.
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Featured image courtesy of Wendell Cruz / USA Today Sports
Statistics courtesy of baseball-reference.com
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