Report: Anthony Rizzo 'Eager' To Re-Sign With Yankees

New York Yankees first baseman Anthony Rizzo is eager to re-sign with the Yankees in free agency this offseason instead of testing the free agent market.

It sounds like the Yankees’ relationship with Anthony Rizzo could extend beyond just a rental acquisition in 2021.

According to Bob Klapisch of NJ.com, Rizzo is “quite eager” to return to the Yankees this offseason, as he gets set to hit the free agent market for the first time in his career.

The Yankees acquired Rizzo at the trade deadline in July from the Chicago Cubs in exchange for cash considerations and minor league prospects Alexander Vizcaíno and Kevin Alcántara.

According to a family member, Anthony Rizzo is quite eager to return to #Yankees in 2022. That’s an important first step, assuming NYY want him back. Have to assume they do.

— Bob Klapisch (@BobKlap) October 25, 2021

In 49 games, Rizzo slashed .249/.340/.428 with a .768 OPS, eight home runs and 21 RBIs as a Yankee. Overall, Rizzo had a down year compared to his typical standards, producing an OPS below .800 for only the second time across a full season in his career.

His 22 homers were also his lowest total since 2012. But Rizzo is a power-hitting left-handed bat, which the Yankees are in desperate need of. The 32-year-old has a slick glove at first base as well.

READ: Trade Proposal: Yankees Send Three Players to Oakland For Matt Olson

Rizzo has a lot of family in New Jersey, so his desire to stick around in the Bronx should come as no surprise. His parents grew up in Lyndhurst, NJ and his wife’s family is from Connecticut. And Rizzo spent a lot of time in Rutherford and at the Jersey Shore growing up.

However, Rizzo’s age and a down season might make the Yankees hesitant to dish out an extensive long-term deal to him at this point. The Yankees’ interest in re-signing Rizzo is currently unknown, and chances are he would only be brought back for the right price.

Not to mention, the Yankees are already destined to shift DJ LeMahieu over to first on a full-time basis since Gleyber Torres is projected to move back to second. The Yankees also have a much bigger need at shortstop and are better off allocating the majority of their resources into signing one of the available superstars at this position on the free agent market this winter.

If Rizzo comes back, it will likely mean the Yankees splurged in free agency, retaining Rizzo and inking a top shortstop. This would also hypothetically put third baseman Gio Urshela on the trading block as it would force LeMahieu over to the hot corner.

MORE:

• Yankees Prospect Austin Wells Catching Fire in Arizona Fall League
• MLB Insider Says These Three Free Agents Could Sign With Yankees
• David Cone Headlines New Jomboy Media Baseball Podcast

Follow Pat Ragazzo on Twitter (@ragazzoreport). Be sure to bookmark Inside The Pinstripes and check back daily for news, analysis and more.