It felt inevitable but the Yankees declined to pick up Anthony Rizzo‘s player option days after the 2024 season concluded, letting the veteran first baseman explore free agency and leave a hole in New York’s infield.
Rizzo’s option would have cost the Yankees $17 million in 2025 and the team deemed it too costly for them. With first base not often thought of as a premium position, and at 35 years old, Rizzo’s time in the Bronx could be up. The left-handed slugger indicated he wanted to play in 2025 whether it was for the Yankees or another team, but should the Bombers think of bringing back one of their key locker room veterans?
Why it could make sense to let Rizzo go
There are a few factors in not re-signing Rizzo. First, at 35 his offensive and perhaps defensive capabilities are on the downturn. After a 32-homer performance in 2022, Rizzo has 20 long balls combined in the past two seasons. He’s also been marred by injuries, playing in less than 100 games in both the 2023 and 2024 seasons.
His defense, while still above average, has visibly declined. Some plays that he would make were tough for Rizzo, especially in the postseason where he was unable to get his glove down to snag a hard grounder or rush a grounder so he could take it to the bag himself, like he usually does, instead of relying on a pitcher to run to first.
While those aspects could be health-related, it’s all the more reason to be wary of bringing Rizzo back for the money he’ll be given in 2025.
There’s also the fact that there are internal and external options to replace Rizzo. If the Yankees are not looking to spend money after potentially re-signing Juan Soto, they can plug in Ben Rice at first and see what happens. They also have Oswaldo Cabrera and Jon Berti on the roster who can man the position if the Yankees want a more veteran bat in the lineup.
There are also some high-level first basemen on the market if they end up having the money to spend. The year’s crop of free-agent first basemen include Pete Alonso and Christian Walker who are both younger and can add offense to a lineup that could be without Soto next season.
Why it could make sense to bring Rizzo back
Rizzo is a beloved figure in the Yankees locker room. His experience, especially in the postseason, is valuable and as we saw in the postseason, his bat-to-ball skills are still there.
The issue is whether Rizzo would return on a cheaper deal for another crack at a World Series title on a team he truly enjoys being a part of.
I also believe there is still something left in Rizzo’s tank, he’s just been held back by injuries. Don’t forget, 2023 was shaping up to be just like 2022 for Rizzo.
By the start of June 2023, Rizzo was hitting .304 with 11 home runs. But the concussion he suffered on that May 28 game against the Padres changed the trajectory of Rizzo’s season and perhaps career. The struggles offensively have been well documented but from June 1 to Aug. 1 — when the team finally shut him down — Rizzo hit just one more home run and saw his average drop all the way to .244.
This past season saw him miss two months with a broken arm and then miss the end of the regular season/start of the postseason with fractured fingers.
If healthy, Rizzo is a better hitter and gives the Yankees lineup more balance than Oswaldo Cabrera or Berti. And he provides better defense at the position than what’s currently on the roster.
Verdict
Perhaps I’m nostalgic but unless the Yankees are going to spend big bucks on Alonso or Walker, bringing back Rizzo on a team-friendly deal is the way to go for at least another year, perhaps with an option for a second. I just can’t see Rice being an everyday hitter and improving enough defensively to warrant going to him at this stage.
Bring Rizzo back and the Yankees can hopefully run it back.