Yankees reportedly re-signing Anthony Rizzo to multi-year deal in pleasant twist

Not today, Astros! Not tomorrow, either! Or the next day. Or the day after that! The New York Yankees, probably after reading Ken Rosenthal’s column suggesting Houston was targeting one of their best players, are reportedly re-signing Anthony Rizzo to a multi-year contract.

The veteran rejected the qualifying offer prior to Tuesday’s deadline, in a move that was expected. The Yankees slapped it on him to buy some time and ensure themselves draft pick compensation in the event another team swooped in to offer a deal Rizzo couldn’t refuse.

As recently as Monday night, fans were terrified the Astros were going to do the unthinkable and poach Rizzo from the Yankees with their vacancy at first base. How did the tables turn like this? Aren’t the Yankees supposed to be scaring other teams on the free agent market? Not the other way around?

The fear was thankfully short-lived. On Tuesday afternoon, the Yankees and Rizzo agreed to a two-year contract with a team option for a third.

Rosenthal was the first to break the news, SNY’s Andy Martino followed it up with the contract details, and YES Network Jack Curry had the finances.

The Yankees have re-signed first baseman Anthony Rizzo

Rizzo will earn $34 million over those two years with the club option being another $17 million (or a $6 million buyout). In totality, it’s a two-year, $40 million contract at least, like many pundits had predicted.

One of the most important players on the Yankees, Rizzo slugged 32 home runs (which tied a career high) and finished with an .817 OPS and 131 OPS+. Best of all, Aaron Judge’s biggest advocate is back, meaning a return for the likely AL MVP is a tad more likely if we’re to make an educated guess.

This checks one big box off the Yankees’ list of priorities ahead of the 2023 season and puts their financial situation into better focus. With Rizzo in the fold for $20 million AAV, it’s clear they’re either going to spend big or start to trade away some other pieces in order to make room to remain under the $260 million luxury tax threshold.

We’ll worry about that later, though. Rizzo will remain a Yankee, and that sound you hear is every Italian fan ferociously fist-pumping knowing their guy is back through 2024.

Anthony Rizzo-Astros free agency buzz is the stuff of nightmares for Yankees fans

The Houston Astros are reportedly targeting Anthony Rizzo as one of their primary free agent targets. The New York Yankees cannot let that happen.