The New York Yankees may be trying to upgrade from Anthony Rizzo at the trade deadline. Rizzo has struggled this season, being benched on June 9 and 10. The Yankees lead the league in runs scored, with Aaron Judge and Juan Soto leading the way. Zachary D. Rymer of Bleacher Report recommended a three-player trade to bring Pete Alonso to the Bronx.
“The Yankees have not had any issue scoring runs. Rymer stated, “Or really any, as they’re up to an MLB-leading 359 this season.” “Their lineup, however, feels thin. Aaron Judge and Juan Soto are obviously fantastic, but then you get into a debate about their next-best hitter, which, frankly, has no good answer.”
The New York Mets may not want to send Alonso to their Subway Series rivals. However, the Mets may slip out of contention in the coming weeks, forcing their hand.
Alonso is acquired through a trade proposal in exchange for a prospect pitcher.
Rymer’s trade proposal gets Alonso to the Yankees and adds depth to the bullpen. Rymer’s plan involves trading Alonso, Adam Ottavino, and cash to the Yankees in exchange for Chase Hampton, the Yankees’ No. 3 prospect.
Hampton is MLB Pipeline’s No. 73 overall prospect. He is now at Double-A Somerset. The 22-year-old is the Yankees’ leading pitching prospect. He has a 3.63 ERA in 20 starts this season.
“Then again, this isn’t an ideal time for the Yankees to part with prized young pitchers.” They recently did so in a huge way with the Soto trade, and they’re looking ahead to a future with aging Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodón,” Rymer stated.
While the Yankees would be trading their finest pitching prospect, they would be adding a guy who could help them win the World Series. Alonso is hitting.233/.315/.459 in 67 games this season. Rymer reports that Rizzo has the lowest OPS among Yankees regulars, at.626.
Alonso has a career batting average of.249. However, his power is what distinguishes him as a top player. The three-time All-Star has 14 home runs this season. Rizzo has only hit eight. Alonso is set to become a free agent at the end of the season.
“The 29-year-old is also due for free agency at the end of the year, and he still has about $12 million remaining on his $20.5 million salary,” Rymer said. “According to Baseball Trade Values, Alonso’s surplus is only $7.5 million. It’s not worthless, but it won’t get you a blue-chip prospect.
Ottavino would provide the Yankees a right-handed alternative in the bullpen.
“Ottavino may have a 5.55 ERA, but he would bring an ability to silence right-handed batters to the back end of New York’s bullpen,” Rymer stated.
Rizzo’s Struggles With the Yankees.
This season, Rizzo has a.221 batting average and a slugging percentage of.344. The 34-year-old is an important part of the Yankees’ clubhouse. He got a two-year contract for $40 million in 2022. He has a $6 million buyout on a $17 million club option for 2025.
Rizzo’s future depends not just on his performance, but also on the Yankees’ payroll problems and pursuit of Juan Soto.
Owner Hal Steinbrenner called the Yankees’ $300 million payroll as “not sustainable” during the owners meetings on May 22.
“I’m gonna be honest, payrolls at the levels we’re at right now are simply not sustainable for us financially,” Steinbrenner remarked, according to the New York Post. “It wouldn’t be sustainable for the vast majority of ownership [groups], given the luxury tax we have to pay.”
Rizzo may be a casualty in the chase of Soto if the club also wants to cut money. If Steinbrenner had not been worried with the $300 million salary, the Yankees could have paid everyone.
“Because the Yankees appear to be committed to saving money wherever they can, Rizzo may become a casualty of the team’s Soto pursuit,” wrote The Athletic’s Chris Kirschner while breaking down the Yankees’ budget.
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