The biggest story of the Yankees’ offseason will be their attempt to retain Juan Sotoone of the most enticing free agents to ever hit the market.
But while the Yanks are trying to do that, there are a handful of other key players who are also about to hit the open market.
That includes Alex Verdugo, Gleyber TorresAnd Clay Holmes.
It will almost certainly include that as well Anthony Rizzoon whom the Yankees have a $17 million option through 2025.
Rizzo has had a tough season.
The 34-year-old slashed just .228/.301/.335 in 92 games while posting an OPS+ of 81. But he is not thinking about retirement.
“I feel like I still have a lot to offer in this game in a lot of different ways,” Rizzo told reporters after New York lost the World Series to the Dodgers on Wednesday night. ‘I don’t want to accept this [jersey] out.”
And now that it looked like Rizzo wouldn’t be back, he thought back to his three and a half seasons in the Bronx.
“The Yankees will always give themselves a chance to be at the top … but after every year, that’s it,” he said. “That’s the last time you’ll ever be with that exact team, with these exact people right now. The uncertainty of what this clubhouse will look like next year is certainly in the air.
“Wearing this jersey is something special that I want every baseball player to feel because it is a different feeling wearing this jersey. I loved every second of it.”
As for Verdugo, the writing appears to be similarly on the wall.
Verdugo was replaced as starting left fielder by Jasson Dominguez towards the end of the season, but ultimately reclaimed his job.
Still, his performance — a .233/.291/.356 regular season streak — left a lot to be desired.
And despite Verdugo’s strong defense, it’s likely 2024 will be the only season he spends as a Yankee.
“This is the closest group of guys I’ve been around,” Verdugo said. “These guys make me emotional because of how much they mean to me and how much they accept me and let me in.
“We have some things to think about, but I definitely want to be back in pinstripes to help us win one.”
