The Yankees announced that they have declined their 2025 club option on Anthony Rizzo, and the veteran first baseman is now a free agent. It was an $11MM decision for the team, as Rizzo will receive a $6MM buyout instead of the $17MM salary he would’ve received if the option had been exercised.
The move probably ends Rizzo’s tenure of three-plus seasons in the Bronx, which began after he was a trade deadline pickup from the Cubs in July 2021. He hit well enough that the Yankees re-signed him to a two-year, $32MM deal that winter, and since that deal contained an opt-out clause after the first season, Rizzo parlayed that opt-out into another two-year, $40MM pact the following offseason.
Rizzo’s 2022 season was easily his best in New York, as he hit .224/.338/.480 with 32 homers over 548 plate appearances. He was also off to a hot start in the first two months of the 2023 campaign before his career was altered by a collision at first base with Fernando Tatis Jr. on May 28, 2023. Rizzo picked up what was deemed as a neck injury on the play and returned to action after sitting out a few games, yet he then went into a brutal slump over the next two-plus months until finally going on the IL at the start of August. Rizzo was diagnosed with post-concussion syndrome, which naturally led to quite a bit of controversy over how Rizzo was both misdiagnosed in the first place, and why his head-related injury went seemingly unnoticed for so long.
That IL placement ended Rizzo’s 2023 season, and he returned to more bad injury luck this year when he fractured his right forearm after another awkward collision at first base in June. Rizzo went on the 60-day injured list and didn’t return until the start of September, and he then suffered further injury when he had two fingers broken by a Ryan Borucki pitch near the end of the regular season. The broken fingers kept Rizzo out of the Yankees’ ALDS matchup with the Royals, though he returned to hit a respectable .267/.421/.300 over 38 PA in the ALCS and World Series.
Since Opening Day 2023, Rizzo has hit only .237/.315/.358 over 796 regular-season plate appearances, over 191 of 324 games. His translates to 0.6 fWAR and a below-average 91 wRC+, and since Rizzo turned 35 last August, it made for a pretty easy call for the Yankees in declining the option.
The health question is clearly paramount for Rizzo as he returns to the open market, as possible suitors will surely have concerns of what Rizzo still has in the tank after 14 Major League seasons. His track record and respected locker room presence probably means that he should be able to land some kind of big league contract for a low guaranteed salary, if likely as a platoon bat rather than a regular at first base. A return to the Yankees at a lower salary seems possible, but the likelier scenario is that New York either fortifies the lineup with a bigger bat at first base, or perhaps rotates DJ LeMahieu and others through the position.
Goodbye Riz :(
Yea he gone his last memories are not running to first and whiffing big at the plate
“Not running to first”…That was on Gerrit Cole not Rizzo. Riz has always been an elite 1b defender and everyone knows you cannot charge a spinning ball, since it might spin away unexpectedly. Rizzo had every reason to believe that Gerrit Cole would do his job and cover 1b.
You’re only partially correct…Rizzo USED to be an elite defender, not so much anymore. Yeah Cole should have been there but Boone said he was tired, lol.
And Judge didn’t hit . What’s your point?
It was time. I respect him and all he has accomplished but the injuries/Father Time has caught up with him.
Rizzo would’ve been so great as a Yankee in his prime. I can see why Chicago loves this guy so much, but the reality is that we must move on from expensive, aging vets.
Also, we know Hal must be cautious with his budget. Money doesn’t grow on trees and 400 quadrillion dollars only goes so far these days.
“Would’ve been so great..Yankee in his prime”…As a long time Yankees hater myself, you are completely correct, sir. Riz is one of those guys you’d love to have a beer with. He was built for the bright lights of NYC. He’s 100% one of the guys built to be a Yankee and it would have been great to see him there in his prime.
I know some are making him the fall guy for Game 5, but others should also share the blame (Cole, Volpe).
He will find another home relatively easily, good guy with a remarkable history. I wish him the best.
Can’t let Judge off the hook either.
dobson – Judge hit the homerun and made the spectacular catch up against the wall, so he is somewhat forgiven for the error.
Or the manager who is responsible for having his team ready to play.
The Yankees played in 5 WS games w/ at least 9 innings per game. They had their opportunities and Judge didn’t hit. No reason to blame the loss on one play. They had many chances.
Welcome to the Yanks, Paul Goldschmidt!
NO! D-back or Astro…
I don’t see Goldy as a Yank.
Mets sign Soto.
Yankees sign Alonso
After that poor play at 1st base i dont blame them.
That play had nothing to do with this decision.
That was on Cole, bruh.
That was Cole’s misplay, not Rizzo’s. There are many reasons to decline the option, but Rizzo’s handling of that play is not one of them. Cole blew the play.
Goodbye Rizzo… you were a nice player for the Yanks and one of the best 1Bs of the decade but it’s time to move on, you’re also a great human being in general and I hope you have a great future, will def miss you.
I’ve rearranged my day and canceled various commitments just to log on and voice my displeasure with this move.
Okay, Now please continue on with your day.
There is a chance the Yankees and Rizzo could work out a deal still (I don’t think so given the injury history), It just won’t be for $17 million per year. No other team is signing Rizzo for $17 million, either, so when the market sets Rizzo price he might still be an option for the Yankees.
Gonna miss the man, not so much the player. It sucks what happened to him post concussion. He was important to the team in many ways but he was not even a shell of himself at the end of it. Idk who’s next, it’ll depend on how Soto plays out, I wouldn’t even mind signing Soto plus a platoon type 1B, maybe even Ben Rice, and beginning the slow transition of Soto to 1B. If we lose the Soto bidding I’m in for a run at Christian walker.
Jed will do that. Welcome home.
With Belli now opting in no way in hell Cubs bring him back, and rightfully so…he’s a slow, aging player who doesn’t hit for much power anymore and Father Time has certainly embraced!!
Great guy but his run with the Yankees is over. It’ll be interesting to see where he lands next season.
This Yankee team is going to look completely different next year with Rizzo, Soto and potentially Cole out of the mix. Not sure they have the horses in the minors to make up for the loss. That wallet will be extra fat, though.
They do not. Their farm system isn’t that great. Jasson Dominguez can replace Verdugo but there is no other MiLB player suited to play everyday much less fill in for Soto. Rodon becomes the ace. Ben Rice also hasn’t shown he can hit MLB pitching yet for 1B.
Cole and Soto will be back. Rizzo hasn’t been in the mix for the last two years really.
Astros will be calling soon Anthony!
Bring back Bird !
As a huge Cub fan, I hope the Cubs signed him as a player/coach! He’s definitely the second Mr. Cub!
Put down the bong….Santo was about the only thing close to a second Mr Cub, and then possibly Ryno. Rizzo had a few great seasons as a player and is still a great person but nowhere near a Mr Cub.
Very easy decision.
Come back as a coach Rizz.