AP Source: Rizzo reaches 32 million deal with Yankees

NEW YORK (AP) — Anthony Rizzo will stay with the New York Yankees, after reaching a contract agreement for two years and 32 million dollars on Tuesday, said a person close to the negotiations.

The source requested to remain anonymous, because the formalization of the agreement depends on the player passing a physical examination.

Three times elected to the All-Star Game, the first baseman was acquired by the Yankees from the Chicago Cubs on July 29. He brought left-handed batting to an order where right-handed people abound.

He batted for .248 with 22 home runs, 61 RBIs and an OPS of .783 the previous season, including an average of .249, eight homers, 21 RBIs and .768 OPS in New York.

Rizzo also provided discipline at the plate and good fielding in the first, where he has won the Golden Glove a couple of times.

The deal detracts from a contract between the Yankees and former Atlanta star Freddie Freeman. It also generates uncertainty around the return of Luke Voit, American League home run champion in 2020, whose 2021 season was plagued by injuries.

Rizzo commented in June that he had not received a coronavirus vaccine.

“As we continue to receive more data, I will continue to educate myself more about this,” he said then.

Unless New York City changes its requirements, Rizzo will have to be vaccinated to play at Yankee Stadium. Currently, local authorities are ordering that any private sector employee be immunized against coronavirus.

On Tuesday morning, Aaron Judge of the Yankees refused to directly answer a question about his vaccination status.

Uninoculated players will also not be able to play in Toronto, against the Yankees' division rivals, the Azulejos, due to Canadian border crossing laws.

Rizzo and outfielder Joey Gallo, left-handed hitter prone to strikeouts, were New York's top acquisitions on the previous season's trade deadline. Prior to those agreements, DJ LeMahieu had played frequently in the initial.