SAN ANTONIO — The Yankees need a first baseman, and a prominent one from across town is without a contract.
In the aftermath of the decision to decline Anthony Rizzo’s $17 million option for next season — the Yankees will instead pay Rizzo a $6 million buyout — general manager Brian Cashman said Tuesday that he’s spoken to agent Scott Boras about Pete Alonso.
“There’s a lot of high-quality players in this marketplace,” Cashman said at the GM meetings. “Certainly Pete did an amazing job with the Mets.”
Boras represents many of the top players on this year’s free-agent market, with Juan Soto, Corbin Burnes and Blake Snell at the top of the list.
Cashman said he had a brief conversation with Boras about “a lot” of his clients.
Alonso received a qualifying offer from the Mets on Monday worth $21.05 million for next season that he’s expected to decline as he searches for a long-term deal.
Cashman said the organization likes Ben Rice’s bat — the rookie hit seven homers in 152 at-bats — but is still evaluating whether he profiles as a first baseman.
Rice, primarily a catcher, started 41 games at first base last season.
“We are really excited about the offensive profile,” Cashman said. “He’s a possibility, but we’re going to evaluate what presents itself in the marketplace as well as trades and internal options.”
