Anthony Rizzo, a former Chicago Cubs first baseman, was performing well before suffering a concussion during the New York Yankees’ 2023 season. He wasn’t the same player he was with the Cubs, but he was a valuable big leaguer who the Yankees were happy to have on the field every game to play first base and hit in the middle of the lineup.
Fast forward a year and a half, and Rizzo was one of baseball’s worst performers last season, and he is still looking for work as spring training begins. Unfortunately, unless he’s ready to accept a small league contract in exchange for an invitation to big league camp, he’s unlikely to be signed by a team. He also stated that he is unwilling to play for the league minimum, which complicates his free agency situation. And, at this point, he may have to resign if he does not accept a new position.
That’s exactly what Michael Monreal of Just Baseball projected, citing him as one of five former All-Stars who could be forced to retire by 2025. “Rizzo is a legend on Chicago’s north side, but his production has plummeted since departing. Rizzo was once a consistent power threat, blasting 30 or more home runs in five MLB seasons, but he only hit eight big balls for the Yankees last season… While his role as a leader and plenty of experience may help him join a major league team, it appears that his opportunities as an everyday player are limited,” Monreal said.
Rizzo must hope that a baseball team will be interested in adding him as a veteran locker room guy. There’s benefit in having him around, but his finest days are long gone, and this is a business, which he hasn’t done well in over two seasons.
