The New York Yankees are considering upgrading their infield, particularly at first base, ahead of the trade deadline. Anthony Rizzo has struggled throughout 2024, showing few signs of improvement. Jim Bowden from The Athletic has suggested Vladimir Guerrero Jr. as a potential trade target to replace Rizzo.
The Toronto Blue Jays, currently with a 33-35 record and three games behind the third wild card spot in the American League, might become sellers at the deadline, though this is not certain.
“The Yankees will monitor the right side of their infield between now and the trade deadline, hoping that both first baseman Anthony Rizzo and second baseman Gleyber Torres start producing at a higher rate,” wrote Bowden. “If they don’t, the Yankees will explore possible trade options. Depending on which teams fall out of the race and whether certain players sign contract extensions, impact players such as Pete Alonso or Vladimir Guerrero Jr. could become available at first base.”
Rizzo’s Future With the Yankees
Rizzo is batting .221 this season with a slugging percentage of .332. The 34-year-old, who signed a two-year, $40 million deal in 2022, is a valuable part of the Yankees clubhouse. He has a $6 million buyout on a $17 million club option for 2025. His future with the Yankees depends on his performance as well as the team’s payroll concerns and pursuit of Juan Soto.
The Yankees’ $300 million payroll has been described as “not sustainable” by owner Hal Steinbrenner. “I’m gonna be honest, payrolls at the levels we’re at right now are simply not sustainable for us financially,” Steinbrenner said, according to the New York Post. Given these financial constraints, Rizzo might become expendable in the Yankees’ efforts to reduce payroll and pursue Soto.
Chris Kirschner of The Athletic noted, “Because the Yankees seem committed to saving money in spots they can, Rizzo may become a casualty of the team’s Soto pursuit.”
Guerrero as an Upgrade from Rizzo
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/69454126/1233435906.0.jpg)
Vladimir Guerrero Jr., a three-time All-Star, Gold Glove Award winner, and Silver Slugger, would be an upgrade from Rizzo. He won his arbitration hearing before the 2024 season, securing a $19.9 million salary, the highest awarded in a hearing. While Guerrero wouldn’t be a cheaper option than Rizzo, he remains arbitration-eligible and won’t become a free agent until 2026.
The Blue Jays might consider trading their stars at the deadline to rebuild for the future. An unnamed executive told MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand, “I don’t think they’re opposed to it. They’ve talked to teams about it. The asks were ridiculous, but I think they’re going to try to retool a lot, and using those guys to get pieces may be the way to do it.”
Guerrero is currently batting .281 with a .778 OPS. While the Yankees’ priority in the offseason is retaining Juan Soto, they could trade for Guerrero if Rizzo’s performance doesn’t improve. If necessary, they could also trade Guerrero in the winter to align with their plans to keep Soto.