Anthony Rizzo opts out of contract with New York Yankees

First baseman Anthony Rizzo is going to be a free agent. After two seasons with the New York Yankees, the four-time Gold Glover has decided to opt out of his contract.

This was an expected move by Rizzo after the season he had. The 33-year-old signed a two-year, $32 million contract with the Yankees back in March of 2022 after the Yankees had traded for him in July of 2021.

Rizzo played 2022 as expected, hitting 32 home runs and 72 RBIs with an OPS of .817, but he clearly feels his production for New York this past season should earn him some extra cash on the free-agent market. He would have made $16 million next season with the Yankees, but the second year of his contract was structured as a player option.

This is not to say that Rizzo can't come back to the Yankees. but the first baseman is certainly going to be looking for more than $16 million per season, and New York is in free-agency limbo as it awaits a decision from Aaron Judge, who declined a contract extension before this past season and only went on to set an American League home run record with 62 dingers this past season.

According to Spotrac, Rizzo should be able to garner a market-value contract of $23 million per season as a free agent, which is not a half-bad raise.