MLB Spring Training is underway, meaning unsigned free agents are faced with an increasing possibility of not being on a team's opening day roster. This includes 2016 World Series champion and three-time All-Star Anthony Rizzo.
Spending parts of four seasons with the New York Yankees after being acquired in a trade with the Chicago Cubs in 2021, Rizzo had the worst full season of his MLB career last year. Posting an 81 OPS+ in 375 plate appearances in 2024, Rizzo rated as a below-average MLB hitter for the second-straight season.
This led to the Yankees declining Rizzo's $17 million team option for 2025, a decision that could lead to the four-time Gold Glove Award winner retiring.
Speaking with The Athletic for an interview released on Friday, Rizzo admitted this could be the end for him.
"I've definitely thought about it," Rizzo said of potentially retiring. "I think I have a lot to give to the game still. But at the same time, if teams are not going to want to pay a few million dollars for veterans, I've seen it the last 10 years of my career. It's what happens to the older guys. They kind of get squeezed. You've seen it happen more and more. I'm not naive to it. It could be it."
Free agent Anthony Rizzo: "I want to play. I want to win."
This realization from Rizzo comes after it was reported his market could merely be stalled because of the drawn out free agency decision of New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso. Earlier this month, The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal reported players like Rizzo were waiting on Alonso's decision before gaining clarity on their own free agencies.
"A number of free-agent hitters are on hold while waiting for Alonso and Bregman to make their decisions," Rosenthal reported on Feb. 4. "Among them: Justin Turner, Yoan Moncada, Randal Grichuk and Ty France. The available hitters also include Harrison Bader, Mark Canha, David Peralta, Tommy Pham and Anthony Rizzo."
Alonso ultimately chose to re-sign with the Mets, removing the other New York team as a potential suitor for Rizzo. It now seems Rizzo's market was not held up by the Mets slugger, but perhaps nonexistent to begin with.
The Yankees have declined their 2025 club option for INF Anthony Rizzo.
Prior to 2023, Rizzo had a sub-100 OPS+ just one time in his MLB career, and it came in his first 49 games with the San Diego Padres in 2011. For over a decade after that season, the left-handed slugger remained one of MLB's premier two-way first baseman.
Unfortunately, this could now be the end for Rizzo.
