AL East

Veteran first baseman Anthony Rizzo and the New York Yankees have agreed to a two-year, $34 million contract, according to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic and Jack Curry of Yes Network.

Curry reported the deal includes a $17 million club option for a third season.

The Rizzo deal is for 2 years, $34M with a club option for $17M for a third year. The buyout in the third year is for $6M.

— JackCurryYES (@JackCurryYES) November 15, 2022

Rizzo had declined the one-year, $19.65 million qualifying offer, which made him a free agent.

The news comes after the 33-year-old became a free agent when he exercised an opt-out clause in his contract with the Yankees for 2023. He had signed a two-year, $32 million extension after coming over in a trade from the Chicago Cubs during the 2021 campaign.

The three-time All-Star put together a respectable 2022 campaign with the Yankees, which was his first full season with the franchise. He slashed .224/.338/.480 with 32 home runs and 75 RBI in 130 games.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone made it clear that he wanted the club to re-sign Rizzo while speaking on The Michael Kay Show in November (h/t Sports Illustrated's Max Goodman):

"He's been everything we could have hoped for. He's been an amazing person in our clubhouse. An amazing teammate, an amazing leader, very productive on the field. I think very much cut out to play for our team, for the Yankees. I think he handles all that goes with playing here as one of the premium players and leaders so well. So yeah, I would love to have him back, of course."

Before being traded to the Yankees, Rizzo spent 10 seasons with the Cubs, helping them win the World Series in 2016. In addition, he won four Gold Gloves and a Silver Slugger during that tenure.

Had he signed elsewhere, the Yankees would have been scrambling to find a player who could replicate his power at the plate.

Now that Rizzo is staying, the front office can shift its focus to other areas, such as signing Aaron Judge as well as at third base, shortstop and pitching.

The New York Yankees' captaincy has been vacant since Derek Jeter's retirement in 2014, but that could soon change.

Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner told YES Network he would consider making Aaron Judge a captain if the slugger re-signs with the team this offseason.

Hal Steinbrenner tells @M_Marakovits that "they would consider" making Aaron Judge the next Yankees' captain. #YANKSonYES pic.twitter.com/cilljzfhta

— YES Network (@YESNetwork) November 15, 2022

There have been only 11 recognized captains in Yankees history. Jeter was the longest-reigning captain in franchise history, earning the "C" in 2003 and keeping it for 12 seasons. Judge would join a list of Yankees legends that includes Jeter, Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig.

“I think I'm able to say that if he's back here next year, he's our captain, he's the next captain,” Yankees pitcher Nestor Cortes told reporters last month. “We follow everything he does. He leads by example. He's not really a guy that comes out and screams at anybody. But if he has to, that's his job. I think he's earned that right to keep us in check. What allows him to be so great, I feel like, is he's a great baseball player, but he's a better human. He treats everybody the same. He follows up on everybody every day. That's what allows him to be who he is.”

Judge is coming off one of the greatest power-hitting seasons in MLB history, setting an AL record with 62 home runs and driving in 131 runs. He will almost certainly be named the AL MVP on Thursday, making him the first Yankee to win MVP since Alex Rodriguez in 2007.

Much like Rodriguez 15 years ago, Judge is set to be a free agent following his finest year in pinstripes. Judge declined a seven-year, $213.5 million contract extension before the 2022 season and stands to see a nine-figure increase in offers on the open market. There is a strong chance Judge winds up beating the nine-year, $324 million franchise-record contract signed by teammate Gerrit Cole in December 2019.

That said, the Yankees are going to face fierce competition for Judge. The San Francisco Giants, located just two hours away from Judge's hometown of Sacramento, are among the teams expected to have wide-open pocketbooks as free agency ramps up.

Veteran outfielder Tommy Pham needs a new home for the 2023 season.

The Boston Red Sox announced that both the franchise and Pham declined the $12 million mutual option on his contract Thursday, making him a free agent. He will receive a $1.5 million buyout.

Boston acquired Pham from the Cincinnati Reds at the 2022 trade deadline.

His stint in Cincinnati was marked by a fantasy football dispute with then-San Francisco Giants outfielder Joc Pederson that turned physical. He received a fine and a three-game suspension for slapping Pederson.

Pham seemed to find his footing when he arrived in Boston before tapering off toward the end of the year. In 53 games with the Red Sox, the nine-year veteran slashed .234/.298/.374 with six home runs and 24 RBI. Comparatively, he hit .238/.320/.374 with 11 homers and 39 RBI in 91 games in Cincinnati.

Pham was drafted in 2006 by the St. Louis Cardinals but made his major league debut in 2014 after spending nine seasons in the minors. He developed into a consistent producer at the plate, and in 2017, he became the first Cardinals hitter since 1900 to record at least 20 home runs, 20 doubles, 20 stolen bases and a .300 batting average in the same season.

The 34-year-old was traded to the Tampa Bay Rays midway through the 2018 season. He was then shipped to the San Diego Padres in December 2019, and he spent two seasons with the club before departing as a free agent in 2022.

By letting Pham walk in free agency, the Red Sox will lose some outfield depth as well as a veteran presence in their dugout. There are multiple teams that could use Pham's consistent production, so he will likely have his fair share of suitors on the open market.

The Tampa Bay Rays have declined their $13 million option for veteran center fielder Kevin Kiermaier.

USA Today's Bob Nightengale noted the St. Louis Cardinals showed interest in Kiermaier in the past and could make a run at him.

The 32-year-old becomes a free agent and is bound to have a market thanks to his defensive record. He's a three-time Gold Glove winner and one of MLB's top defenders at any position.

Kevin Kiermaier got UP! 😱 pic.twitter.com/2jhnVAiIrq

— MLB (@MLB) September 14, 2021

"I'm in a unique position with what my defensive skill set is, and I'll never shy away from that," he told reporters in 2021. "I believe I'm the best defensive outfielder in the game. I'd put my talents up with anyone, and I'm very confident in saying that."

Kiermaier's durability and offense—or lack thereof—have lowered his value, though.

He has crossed the 150-game threshold just once and averaged 108 appearances per season since 2014—excluding the 2020 campaign shortened by the COVID-19 pandemic.

In 2021, he was sidelined with a quad strain and then again because of a sprained left wrist. Last season, a hip injury required season-ending surgery in August.

Even if Kiermaier logs a full 162-game schedule in 2023, his contributions at the plate could be limited. For his career, he has a .715 OPS and a 98 OPS+, per Baseball Reference. Among qualified hitters since 2014, he's 343rd in wOBA (.308) on FanGraphs.

Sometimes players discover a new level offensively thanks to a swing change or adapting their approach in the batter's box. Josh Donaldson is a prime example of the former, while Marcus Semien falls in the latter category.

For Kiermaier, it would seem the ship has sailed to be a radically different hitter. Any breakthrough that might have happened would have come by now.

Despite his glaring flaws, Kiermaier figures to be an attractive target for a contender in need of a defensive upgrade in the outfield.

New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman told reporters on Wednesday he's been "listening and engaging" on potential trade talks this offseason, including interest from around baseball regarding the team's current infield depth.

"We don't have a right fielder," he added of the team's needs. "We don't have a left fielder. I'd always like to improve the pitching. We have some kids pushing in on the infield, so there'll be, I would think, probably a lot of exciting opportunities that could play out next spring in the middle infield."

The right-field vacancy comes down to the pending free agency of superstar slugger Aaron Judge, whose decision this winter will have a huge impact on the team's future plans.

"Optimally, if you could wave a magic wand, we would secure Aaron Judge and retain him and have him signed and happy and in the fold as soon as possible," Cashman told reporters. "But he's a free agent. He's earned the right to be a free agent. So he'll dictate the dance steps."

Cashman said he has been in touch with Judge’s rep at the GM Meetings. Would not say if the NYY have made an offer. Did say that he has been made no promise by Judge camp that the NYY will be given last chance to match/beat a best offer.

— Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) November 9, 2022

And he'll have plenty of dance partners after an epic 2022 season that saw him hit .311 with 62 homers, 131 RBI, 133 runs, 16 stolen bases and a 1.111 OPS. Judge carried New York's offense for long stretches this season, and his departure would be a huge blow.

The Yankees already have a projected payroll of $181 million for next season, per Spotrac, and a deal for Judge isn't going to be cheap, alongside other needs in left field (Andrew Benintendi is a free agent) and potentially first base (Anthony Rizzo is a free agent) and the rotation (Aroldis Chapman, Zack Britton and Chad Green are hitting free agency).

Cashman on Rizzo: “We like him on the field, and we like him in the clubhouse . . . He’s a free agent now. We’ll be one of many, I’m sure, that will engage him. He’ll hear what he hears on the marketplace and ultimately make a decision for him and his family.” @MLBNetwork

— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) November 10, 2022

Asked about shortstop, Cashman said that he views “a lot of exciting opportunities that could play out next spring in the middle infield category.” Oswald Peraza, Oswaldo Cabrera & Anthony Volpe all could be in play.

— Bryan Hoch ⚾️ (@BryanHoch) November 9, 2022

Add in the possibility of chasing one of the elite starters on the market, including Justin Verlander, Carlos Rodón and Jacob deGrom, and the wage sheet could start ticking up very quickly, depending on New York's approach to free agency.

Given that infield depth, however, a trade might handle some of those needs without having to dip into the expensive waters of free agency. Still, the team's entire offseason plan will probably hinge, at least in part, on Judge's decision.

"I can't sign a right fielder, right, that's not Aaron Judge?" Cashman told reporters after he was asked what he planned to do while waiting out Judge's decision. "I'm not going to do that in the near term."

New York Yankees fans worried after general manager Brian Cashman told reporters Tuesday he had no comment when asked if the team had spoken to free agent Aaron Judge since the end of the season can breathe a sigh of relief.

"Have we engaged them since the end of the season? The answer is yes," Cashman said of Judge and his agent, Page Odle, on Wednesday, per Jon Morosi of MLB Network.

Cashman's comments come after Jon Heyman of the New York Post reported on Monday a club executive said he is more "confident" the Bronx Bombers can sign the slugger than he was in the past.

"The belief is that the Yankees will be willing to top Judge's $36 million a year asking price from back in spring," Heyman added.

It isn't much of a surprise that the 30-year-old will be looking for more money than he was before the 2022 campaign started. After all, all he did was set the American League record with 62 home runs while slashing .311/.425/.686 with a league-best 131 RBI and 111 walks.

It was one of the best offensive performances in Major League Baseball history and will surely land him the AL MVP.

On Tuesday, Cashman said the team would also consider bringing back Anthony Rizzo and Andrew Benintendi, even if Judge is the primary focus.

"If you could wave a magic wand, we would secure Aaron Judge and retain him and have him signed and happy in the fold as soon as possible," Cashman said. "He's a free agent. He's earned the right to be a free agent, so he'll dictate the dance steps."

That means other teams, such as the San Francisco Giants, will also have the opportunity to pursue the biggest prize on the free agency market, but New York has at least talked to Judge in the early stages of the offseason.

Now it will be up to the front office to offer a deal that is enough to convince him to stay.

Josh Donaldson isn't going anywhere.

New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman told reporters Tuesday that Donaldson will remain the team's third baseman next season despite his struggles in 2022, per Sports Illustrated's Pat Ragazzo.

"Cash went on to laud Donaldson’s defense and says his offense is better than what he showed last season, they believe he still has a lot left," Ragazzo wrote in a Twitter post.

Cashman's comments come after Yankees manager Aaron Boone evaluated Donaldson's 2022 season during an appearance on The Michael Kay Show (h/t Sports Illustrated's Max Goodman) last week:

"I know it was a grind for him offensively, I know it was a struggle like it was, frankly, for a lot of our guys in the postseason. We didn't perform as well as we would have liked offensively. That wasn't all Josh. But the competitive at-bat thing I think was there, especially because he was one of the guys actually getting on base at a consistent clip, even in the postseason. It was just getting to that big hit or big swing that would really help get him rolling. That didn't happen for a number of our guys."

The Yankees hoped Donaldson, who was acquired in the deal that sent Gary Sánchez and Gio Urshela to the Minnesota Twins ahead of the 2022 campaign, could revive his career in the Bronx.

Instead, he put together one of the worst offensive performances of his career as he struggled at the dish, hitting .222/.308/.374 with 15 home runs and 62 RBI in 132 regular-season games. He also struck out 148 times.

Those struggles continued into the postseason as the Yankees went on to be swept by the Houston Astros in the American League Championship Series after finishing first in the AL East with a 99-63 record. Donaldson hit .172/.333/.207 in nine playoff games and struck out 16 times.

The one thing that is likely keeping Donaldson's job safe is the fact he had a solid season defensively with 78 putouts and 220 assists.

Donaldson is set to earn $21 million in 2023, the final year of his contract. If he doesn't turn things around at the plate, it's reasonable to believe the Yankees will move on either by the trade deadline or after the season.

The Boston Red Sox are already considering backup plans in case veteran shortstop Xander Bogaerts departs the club in free agency this winter.

They are exploring the market for a second baseman and have begun reaching out to teams to see who might be available, "hoping to figure out Plan B in the likely event" Bogaerts signs elsewhere, per MLB.com's Mark Feinsand.

"It doesn’t seem like they're going to spend big on a shortstop," a source told Feinsand. "They knew this was a possibility when they signed [Trevor] Story last year."

However, Sean McAdam of Boston Sports Journal reported last month that Red Sox owner John Henry and chairman Tom Werner had met with Bogaerts to reiterate that re-signing him is their "top priority."

Red Sox chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom also said last month, per MassLive.com's Chris Cotillo:

"That's no different than where we've been. Our position hasn't changed on that. I've said this before, but nothing I say really matters unless there's a deal. But our position has been the same, that we want to keep him here for a long time and we want him here on a deal that we're going to look back on and say, 'This was great for everybody.'"

If Bogaerts exits in free agency, which opens Thursday, the Red Sox would reportedly move Story back to shortstop, his natural position. The 29-year-old played second base for Boston last season after signing a six-year, $140 million deal with the franchise.

Before joining the Red Sox, Story served as the Colorado Rockies' No. 1 shortstop for six seasons.

Seeking a lower-priced second baseman would make financial sense for the Red Sox, especially considering Bogaerts—one of the premier shortstops on the market this winter alongside Carlos Correa, Dansby Swanson and Trea Turner—should receive a significant raise from the $20 million per year he was earning in Boston.

However, seeing Bogaerts depart would be a tough blow for the Red Sox in more ways than one. The 30-year-old is the team's longest-tenured player and one of its biggest leaders in the locker room.

In addition, he is one of Boston's best hitters and is coming off a season in which he slashed .307/.377/.456 with 15 home runs, 73 RBI and eight stolen bases in 150 games. He hit .300 or better in three of the last four seasons.

Bogaerts has helped Boston win two World Series titles, has four Silver Slugger awards and has been named an All-Star four times over his 10-year career.

Losing that production would be devastating for a team that went 78-84 in 2022, finishing last in the AL East and missing the playoffs for the third time in the last four seasons.

It's unclear which second basemen the Red Sox might be targeting as a backup plan.

The New York Yankees are expected to give Anthony Rizzo a $19.65 million qualifying offer, per Jon Heyman of the New York Post.

The first baseman will have until 4 p.m. ET Nov. 15 to accept the offer, which would keep him with the Yankees on a one-year deal, or decline it and become a free agent. If he declines, New York would receive compensation in the draft.

Rizzo appeared in 130 games for the Yankees last season, totaling a career-high-tying 32 home runs and 75 RBI with a .224 batting average and .817 OPS.

The veteran was especially valuable in the playoffs, hitting .276 with a .432 on-base percentage in nine games, adding two home runs and eight RBI. He was one of just two Yankees, along with Harrison Bader, to hit a home run as they were swept in the American League Championship Series by the Houston Astros.

Rizzo spent the majority of his 12-year career with the Chicago Cubs, totaling three All-Star selections, four Gold Glove Awards and a World Series title in nine-plus seasons before he joined the Yankees in a midseason trade in 2021. He signed a two-year, $32 million extension with New York, but the second year featured a player option and he declined it.

The 33-year-old is an important piece for the Yankees to retain, especially with slugger Aaron Judge also in free agency. Giancarlo Stanton and Gleyber Torres were the only other players to hit more than 15 home runs last season.

DJ LeMahieu could play first base if Rizzo leaves, but there would be a significant drop-off in offensive power to the lineup.

Veteran first baseman Eric Hosmer has exercised his $13 million contract option with the Boston Red Sox for the 2023 season, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post.

He's now locked into the next two years of the deal before holding another player option for 2025, per Spotrac.

Christopher Smith of MassLive.com reported Boston will only be on the hook for paying the MLB minimum salary for the duration of the contract, while the San Diego Padres will pay the rest.

The Red Sox acquired Hosmer from San Diego at the Aug. 2 trade deadline in exchange for minor league left-hander Jay Groome. The deal came after he declined to be sent to the Washington Nationals in the Juan Soto trade.

Hosmer, who has failed to live up to expectations since signing an eight-year, $144 million deal with the Padres in 2018, was expected to opt in to his contract as he likely would not have been paid more if he became a free agent.

In 14 games with the Red Sox, he slashed .244/.320/.311 with no home runs and four RBI. It was a disappointing second half of the season for the four-time Gold Glover, though he didn't have the best year as a whole.

Between the Red Sox and Padres in 2022, he slashed .268/.334/.382 with eight home runs and 44 RBI in 104 games.

That said, the Red Sox as a whole were disappointing, finishing last in the AL East with an 78-84 record and missing the postseason for the third time in the last four seasons.

Now that he's returning to Boston for 2023, Hosmer should serve as the team's top first baseman, anchoring a unit that also includes Bobby Dalbec and rising star Triston Casas, the club's No. 2-ranked prospect, per MLB.com.