The New York Yankees may be seeking to enhance their infield roster by the trade deadline, particularly at first base. Anthony Rizzo has been underperforming in 2024 and has shown few signs of improvement. Jim Bowden from The Athletic suggested that Vladimir Guerrero Jr. could be a potential trade target to replace Rizzo at first base.
The Toronto Blue Jays currently have a 33-35 record and are three games behind the third wild card spot in the American League. While they might become sellers at the deadline, this is not certain.
Bowden noted that “the Yankees will keep an eye on the right side of their infield leading up to the trade deadline, hoping that first baseman Anthony Rizzo and second baseman Gleyber Torres improve their performance. If not, the Yankees will explore trade options. Depending on which teams fall out of contention, whether certain players sign contract extensions, and other factors, high-impact players like Pete Alonso or Vladimir Guerrero Jr. could become available at first base.”
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Rizzo’s Future With the Yankees
Anthony Rizzo is currently batting .221 with a .332 slugging percentage this season. The 34-year-old, an integral part of the Yankees clubhouse, signed a two-year, $40 million deal in 2022, which includes a $6 million buyout on a $17 million club option for 2025.
Rizzo’s future with the Yankees depends not only on his performance but also on the team’s payroll considerations and their pursuit of Juan Soto. Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner described the team’s $300 million payroll as “not sustainable” during the owners’ meetings on May 22. According to the New York Post, Steinbrenner stated, “I’m gonna be honest, payrolls at the levels we’re at right now are simply not sustainable for us financially. It wouldn’t be sustainable for the vast majority of ownership [groups], given the luxury tax we have to pay.”
Given the Yankees’ commitment to reducing payroll, Rizzo might be a casualty in their efforts to acquire Soto. Chris Kirschner of The Athletic noted, “Because the Yankees seem committed to saving money where they can, Rizzo may become a casualty of the team’s Soto pursuit.”
Guerrero is an Upgrade from Rizzo
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is a three-time All-Star, Gold Glove Award winner, and Silver Slugger recipient. He won his arbitration hearing before the 2024 season, securing a $19.9 million salary—the highest ever awarded in an arbitration case. While Guerrero won’t be cheaper than Rizzo, he remains arbitration-eligible and won’t become a free agent until 2026.
The Blue Jays might consider trading their stars at the deadline to focus on rebuilding for the future. An unnamed executive told MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand, “I don’t think they’re opposed to it. They’ve talked to teams about it. The asks were ridiculous, but I think they’re going to try to retool a lot, and using those guys to get pieces may be the way to do it.”
Guerrero is currently batting .281 with a .778 OPS. The Yankees’ main offseason priority is retaining Juan Soto, but if Rizzo’s performance doesn’t improve, they might trade for a player like Guerrero. The Yankees could then trade Guerrero in the winter if his salary interferes with their plans to keep Soto.
