Rizzo reaches $32M deal with Yankees
Anthony Rizzo is staying with the New York Yankees, agreeing Tuesday night to a $32 million, two-year contract, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press.
The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the agreement was subject to a successful physical.
A three-time All-Star first baseman, Rizzo was acquired by the Yankees from the Chicago Cubs on July 29 and added a lefthanded bat to a heavily right-handed batting order in New York. He hit .248 with 22 home runs, 61 RBIs and a .783 OPS last season.
Rizzo also provided plate discipline and smooth fielding at first, where he has won a pair of Gold Gloves.
The deal may take the Yankees out of the running for free agent and former Braves All-Star Freddie Freeman. New York reportedly had interest in the 2020 NL MVP. It also creates uncertainty for returning first baseman Luke Voit.
Rizzo said last June that he had not received a coronavirus vaccine, adding “as we continue to get more data, I'll continue to be more educated on it.” He will need to be vaccinated in order to play at Yankee Stadium due to a requirement in New York City that every private sector employee be inoculated against the coronavirus, unless that requirement is lifted.
Earlier Tuesday, Yankees star Aaron Judge refused to directly answer a question about his vaccine status. Unvaccinated players will also not be allowed to play in Toronto against the division-rival Blue Jays due to Canadian entry laws
“I'm still focused on just getting to the first game of spring training,” Judge said from the team's Florida training complex. “So I think we'll cross that bridge after the time comes. ”
Just like Brooklyn Nets star Kyrie Irving, unvaccinated players on the Yankees and Mets will not be allowed to suit up at home due to the city's private employer mandate that went into effect Dec. 27.
The employer mandate is the same across the board, whether it's a sports team playing indoors or outdoors. A city hall official who was not authorized to speak on the record noted that the start of the season is a month away, too far out to make a determination about what will happen then as the city continues to monitor COVID-19 cases.
Olson's big contract
The Atlanta Braves signed new first baseman Matt Olson to a $168 million, eight-year contract on Tuesday. The World Series champions quickly locked down the 27-yearold slugger through at least 2029. The deal also includes a $20 million club option for 2030 with no buyout.