3 players Yankees could target to replace Anthony Rizzo ft. Pete Alonso

The New York Yankees have hit another roadblock with an injury to their veteran first baseman Anthony Rizzo. During the series finale against the Boston Red Sox, the former Cubs star injured his left arm after colliding with Red Sox pitcher Brennan Bernardino in the seventh inning while hustling for the base. He then had to exit the game immediately.

Although the initial X-rays had negative results, according to MLB insider Ken Rosenthal, the test results from Monday showed that the three-time All-Star suffered a fractured arm and may be out for 4-6 weeks.

This season hasn't been the best of his career. He has had a batting average of .223, along with an OPS of .630. He has hit eight home runs and 28 RBIs in the 70 games he has played. However, he showed some sparks of his true form and helped his team whenever called upon. Rizzo signed a two-year, $40 million contract in 2022 that has a 2025 club option and a $6 million buyout option.

Now that he is out for a minimum of 4-6 weeks, the Yankees would surely look at options to replace the 34-year-old slugger. Let us look at the top 3 names the Yankees could look to serve first base while Rizzo is still out.

3. Paul Goldschmidt

The St. Louis Cardinals' 36-year-old 1B Paul Goldschmidt could be a great option to replace Anthony Rizzo in the Yankees lineup. The seven-time All-Star slugger is playing the final season of his $130 million contract from 2020, which ran until the end of the 2024 season.

He will be a free agent next season if both player and the team don't reach an agreement to extend his stay at Busch Stadium. The star has had a turbulent season like Rizzo. He has played 69 games, and in 274 at-bats, he has a batting average of .230, along with an OPS of .652, while hitting just eight home runs and 27 RBIs.

His performance this season wouldn't interest the Cardinals enough to invest another $50 million to extend his stay at the dugout after the end of his current contract. However, the Cards would also not like to let him go for free, and this could be the key for the Yanks to make a move for the 2021 Gold Glove winner and snatch him away to replace Rizzo before the end of the trade deadline on July 30, 2024. However, in case the Yanks go for the Cards' star, they would need to make more space on their books by releasing or trading someone in the package.

2. Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

The Toronto Blue Jays' All-Star slugger Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is also a top option to replace Rizzo, not just for the time being but for the long run. The 25-year-old 1B has been recently rumored to be interested in a move outside the Blue Jays, and a club with the Yankees' history and legacy could lure him toward them.

Guerrero Jr. has had somewhat of a mixed season so far. The young hitter has played 72 games and had 275 at-bats so far. He has a batting average of.284 and an OPS of .776, along with just seven home runs and 30 RBIs. This hasn't been the best season for the talented baseball star, but he has shown flickers of his talent this season.

Guerrero Jr. signed a one-year contract for $19.9 million, which was decided by salary arbitration. Unless both parties negotiate and reach a point of acknowledgment with a new contract extension, the three-time All-Star slugger is set to be a free agent next year.

The Blue Jays know they need to spend a huge contract to keep the player with them for a few more years, or they might lose him for nothing. To avoid that, the team might agree to part ways with the star earlier to get something out of a trade move before the deadline. In such a case, Guerrero Jr. could be an ideal candidate to replace Rizzo in the Bronx Bombers' lineup.

1. Pete Alonso

The New York Mets' star 1B Pete Alonso could be a potent solution for Aaron Boone and the Yankees' first base. The 29-year-old slugger signed a one-year contract extension worth $20.5 million to avoid arbitration. However, as per reports, there haven't been any new talks between him and the Mets over a contract extension, and he is set to be a free agent in 2025.

So far this season, things have been decent for Alonso. He has played 71 games for his side, and in 276 at-bats, he has a batting average of.239 and an OPS of .781, along with 15 home runs and 39 RBIs.

However, Mets' owner Steve Cohen might find it difficult to keep the star beyond 2025 if they don't offer him a mega contract. On the other hand, cashing in before the trade deadline could be a tempting option for Carlos Mendoza's side, rather than seeing the three-time All-Star slugger leave for free in 2025.

In such a situation, the Yankees' general manager Brian Cashman, known for his brave and bold moves, could pounce on this situation and add a quality hitter to the already potent Yankees lineup to further strengthen it and also address the 1B problem they are facing.