4 Yankees in contract year whose motivations could lift 2024 roster

It's no secret the New York Yankees have put pressure on themselves to capitalize in 2024. They traded for one guaranteed year of Juan Soto and have an additional nine players hitting free agency come November.

Some might call that a risky strategy -- and it undoubtedly is. On the flip side, however, it could serve as a motivator for guys to maximize their values in a contract year, or play to expectations in order to have their option picked up.

It offers a do-or-die element that only the best competitors will respond to, which only improves a team's chances to make an October run. The Yankees have lacked that sense of urgency for quite some time -- just look at Aaron Judge's historic 2022 season when the Yankees were smashed by the Astros and swept in the ALCS (after nearly being eliminated by the Guardians in the ALDS).

But after a few chemistry-altering moves this offseason, the Yankees acquired gamers. Some with a chip on their shoulder. Others with something to prove. And then they have some in-house names still looking to rebound or prove their consistency.

And those who are in a contract year? They could change the dynamic.

4 Yankees in contract year whose motivations could lift 2024 roster

Anthony Rizzo

Rizzo signed a two-year contract with a team option for the 2025 season at the conclusion of 2022. He's set to make $40 million guaranteed (his option is for $17 million but carries a $6 million buyout). He's not a true free agent, but with the way teams have treated these options in recent years, he might as well be.

Rizzo's 2022 was pretty much as good as it gets for a lumbering first baseman in his age-32 season. The lefty slugger cranked 32 homers and 75 RBI with an .817 OPS and 130 OPS+ across 130 games. There were holes in his game, but that offensive output is enough to justify his salary.

But then came 2023. Rizzo got off to a blistering start in April and May but then suffered a head injury in a collision with Fernando Tatis Jr. He was misdiagnosed, played another two months with what was determined to be "cognitive impairment," and put forth some of the worst baseball you'll ever see (but to no fault of his own, outside of not saying to the Yankees "I literally cannot play").

The former World Series champion has a lot to gain from a productive 2024, and the Yankees will greatly benefit if his bat and on-base skills can at least remain consistent to his career averages.

Clay Holmes

Clay Holmes said the Yankees haven't approached him about an extension, but the team has no reason to at the moment. Holmes is making $6 million in his final year of arbitration eligibility and still has a lot to prove.

The right-hander's consistency has been his paramount issue. His 25 sterling games during a worthless 2021 season set the tone, but his All-Star 2022 season was a tale of two halves: 1.31 ERA and 0.87 WHIP in the first and a 4.84 ERA and 1.30 WHIP in the second. Can't have that.

Then, in 2023, it occurred in similar fashion but to a lesser extreme. Holmes wasn't the certified closer for a decent portion to start the year because of the way he finished 2023, but his 2.23 ERA and 1.10 WHIP first half (with 10 saves) combined with his 3.71 ERA and 1.28 WHIP second half (with 14 saves) made it a bit more palatable.

Truthfully, there's no room for such a discrepancy in 2024. Holmes has superior stuff, but needs to harness his command and composure. He'll be the favorite to kick off the year as the team's closer and his fight for a payday could help him secure it once and for all.

Alex Verdugo

The Year of the Dugie that Boston Red Sox fans were yearning for in 2022 and 2023 might very well come with the Yankees in 2024. What a story that would be.

Acquired in a trade with the Yanks' hated rivals this offseason, Verdugo comes to New York as someone with a lot to prove. He was consistently called out by his former manager Alex Cora the last couple years in Beantown, which resulted in public spats. Verdugo took a parting shot at Cora in his introductory call with the Yanks, too.

Fans certainly like that energy, but it'll feel empty without the requisite production. Verdugo was brought in to lengthen the Yankees lineup and provide a left-handed threat to turn over the order. The potential is there, too.

Not only has his defense improved significantly, the former Dodgers top prospect has shown an ability to hit for contact and rack up extra-base hits. He also barely strikes out. Oh yeah, and Verdugo received MVP votes in the shortened 2020 season!

But he's coming off his worst full season of his MLB career. He hit .264 with a .745 OPS (100 OPS+). He kind of became a heel in Boston as the fans grew frustrated, since he was supposed to be the crown jewel of the Mookie Betts trade.

In 2024, he'll remain in the AL East with something to prove right in front of his new biggest rival. His defense in the outfield will save the Yankees after a season in which they played infielders in the left and right pastures. His bat should see an uptick in production surrounded by the most talent he's ever played alongside in his career.

Like Torres, Verdugo can set the record straight and dictate his own future. He'll make $9-10 million in his final year of arbitration eligibility, but he needs an all-around good season to convince a potential investor he's worth a longer-term deal. That'll stick it to Cora, wouldn't it?