Anthony Rizzo’s baseball story reads like a classic script—hero rises, conquers a curse, then battles the grind of time. The guy who helped snap the Chicago Cubs’ 108-year World Series drought in 2016 was a king of the 2010s, a first baseman with a glove full of Gold and a bat that delivered in clutch spots. But his stint with the New York Yankees? It didn’t quite hit the same high notes. Now, as he lingers in free agency with the 2025 season creeping closer, Rizzo’s looking for a chance to flip the script—and the Yankees, banged up and scrambling, might just be the spot for a homecoming.
Let’s talk about where Rizzo’s at. The past few years in the Bronx were rough. After a standout 2022—32 homers, 75 RBIs, and a .338 OBP in 130 games—things went sideways. Injuries piled up like dirty laundry: post-concussion syndrome sidelined him for half of 2023, then a fractured forearm and two busted fingers limited him to 92 games in 2024. The stat line took a hit—.228/.301/.335 last year, with just 8 homers and 35 RBIs. That’s not the Rizzo who terrorized pitchers in Chicago. Yankees fans, the front office, and even Rizzo himself had bigger dreams when he signed that two-year, $34 million deal in 2022. Instead, he became a shadow of the All-Star who’d racked up four Gold Gloves and a World Series ring.
But here’s the thing—Rizzo’s not done. He’s 35, not 45, and he’s made it clear he’s itching to play in 2025. The Yankees declined his $17 million option after the World Series, opting for a $6 million buyout, but that doesn’t mean the door’s slammed shut. Now, with Opening Day just weeks away on March 27, the free-agent market’s cooled, and Rizzo’s price tag’s likely dropped from premium to bargain bin. That’s where the Yankees’ current mess comes in.
The Yankees’ Injury Woes: A Hole to Fill
The pinstripes are hurting—literally. Giancarlo Stanton, their hulking designated hitter, is out with an unspecified injury, and the timeline’s murky. Best case, he’s back in May; worst case, who knows? Then there’s Gerrit Cole, their ace, gone for the year after Tommy John surgery. The rotation’s already a patchwork, and losing Stanton’s bat—a guy who mashed 30 homers in 114 games last year—leaves a crater in the lineup. Sure, they’ve got Aaron Judge and Juan Soto (assuming Soto re-signs), but you don’t win in April and May with just two studs. Depth matters, and right now, the Yankees are thin.
Rizzo fits like a glove here—not a Gold Glove anymore, maybe, but a solid one. He’s not the 30-homer threat he was in his prime, but he’s a pro who can still play. Look at 2022: 130 games, .224 average, but a .338 OBP and 32 bombs. Even in his injury-marred 2024 postseason, he hit .267 with a .721 OBP across 10 games. The power’s faded—133 straight plate appearances without a homer to end last year—but the eye’s still there, and the experience is priceless. A healthy Rizzo, playing 130-plus games, gives you a floor of .240, 15-20 homers, and 60 RBIs. That’s not MVP stuff, but it’s a hell of a lot better than rolling out a rookie or a journeyman while Stanton’s on the shelf.
Why Rizzo Makes Sense
This isn’t about nostalgia—it’s about need. The Yankees could scour the trade market, but picks are precious, and they’re already down Cole and leaning on guys like Max Fried and Carlos Rodón. Free agency’s the quicker fix, and Rizzo’s sitting there, a known quantity. He’s not the $17 million guy anymore—think league minimum ($760,000) or a touch above, maybe $2-3 million on a one-year deal. That’s chump change for a team with a $271 million payroll, and it buys you a vet who’s won a ring, knows the clubhouse, and can hold down first base or DH until Stanton’s back.
What’s Rizzo bring beyond the numbers? Grit and smarts. He’s a leader—teammates like Jazz Chisholm Jr. raved about his vibe after the World Series—and he’s got that playoff DNA from ’16 with the Cubs. The Yankees’ young core—Anthony Volpe, Austin Wells—could use that steady hand. Plus, he’s a lefty bat in a lineup that’s lost some balance with Deebo Samuel traded away. Pair him with Judge and Soto, and you’ve got a middle order that still makes pitchers think twice.
The Flip Side: Risks and Reality
Let’s not sugarcoat it—Rizzo’s a gamble. The injuries aren’t flukes; they’re a trend. Two years of sub-100 games isn’t what you want from a guy you’re counting on to plug a gap. His slugging’s dipped below .400 the last two seasons, and at 35, the odds of a power resurgence are slim. If he’s banged up again, you’re stuck with a roster spot that’s more sentimental than useful. And the Yankees aren’t desperate—they’ve got Ben Rice, a rookie who showed pop in limited action last year, as an internal option. But Rice is unproven, and with Stanton out, they can’t afford to experiment too long.
The Call: A Short-Term Reunion
Here’s how it plays out: Rizzo signs a cheap, one-year deal—say, $2 million—with the Yankees in the next week or two. He slots in at DH or first base, spelling Rice and keeping the lineup afloat until Stanton’s back. If he stays healthy, you get 15 homers, a .320 OBP, and a steady glove—enough to tread water. If Stanton returns in May and Rizzo’s still kicking, he’s a bench bat with postseason upside. Worst case, he’s a low-cost cut if it flops. For a team that just fell short in the World Series, it’s a low-risk move to stabilize a rocky start.
Rizzo’s not the star he was in Chicago, and his Yankees tenure didn’t end with confetti. But he’s got gas in the tank, and the Yankees need a sparkplug right now. A reunion makes too much sense—call it a bridge, not a blockbuster. Opening Day’s coming, and Rizzo could be back in pinstripes, ready to prove he’s still got it.
