Rizzo said Friday that he is fully healthy and remains eager to play in 2025 despite not having a team heading into spring training, Ken Rosenthal and Brendan Kuty of The Athletic report.
While Rizzo may still want to play in the majors, it doesn't seem there are many teams interested in bringing in an aging veteran who is coming off his worst regular season in 13 years (.636 OPS) and hasn't reached the 100-game mark since 2022 due to troubles staying healthy. He most recently suffered two fractured fingers on his right hand after getting hit by a pitch in late September, which forced him to sit out until the ALCS. His hand has since fully recovered, and he's been going through his normal offseason routine, though the three-time All-Star acknowledged that if enough time passes and he still remains on the open market, it may be time to start thinking about retirement.
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Anthony Rizzo: Club option declined
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The Yankees declined Rizzo's $17 million club option for 2025 on Saturday.
Rizzo slashed just .228/.301/.335 with 35 RBI across 375 plate appearances in 2024 -- his worst season at the plate since his rookie year with the Padres in 2011. Despite his significant drop in production, the 35-year-old first baseman should still be able to attract some attention in the open market, though he likely won't receive anything close to the $17 million average annual salary he'd been getting from New York.
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Yankees' Anthony Rizzo: Downtime helping injured fingers
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Rizzo said Wednesday that the time off between the ALCS and World Series has allowed swelling in his fractured fingers to subside, Greg Joyce of the New York Post reports.
The two fractured fingers on Rizzo's right hand have not yet fully healed, which led to the digits swelling up between ALCS contests. However, the five days off between the ALCS and World Series has, unsurprisingly, been beneficial for the first baseman. Rizzo will likely still have to play through some discomfort against the Dodgers, but he'll be the Yankees' primary first baseman during the Fall Classic.
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Yankees' Anthony Rizzo: Absent from Game 3 lineup
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Rizzo is not in the lineup Thursday for Game 3 of the ALCS in Cleveland.
Rizzo returned from two fractured fingers to reach base twice in each of the first two games of the series, but with southpaw Matthew Boyd on the hill for the Guardians in Game 3, the left-handed-hitting Rizzo will begin the contest on the bench. Jon Berti is starting at first base and batting sixth.
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Yankees' Anthony Rizzo: Should start again in Game 2
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Rizzo fared well in Game 1 of the ALCS against the Guardians and is expected to be in the starting lineup Tuesday for Game 2, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.
Rizzo picked up a single and drew a walk in Monday's series opener, and skipper Aaron Boone noted after the game that he pulled the veteran first baseman after he seemed emotionally drained, per Hoch. Rizzo suffered two fractured fingers on his right hand during the penultimate game of the regular season. The training staff will likely check on Rizzo again Tuesday morning, but all signs point to him being back in the starting nine for Tuesday's clash.
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Yankees' Anthony Rizzo: Starting at first base in Game 1
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Rizzo will start at first base and bat eighth Monday in Game 1 of the ALCS versus the Guardians.
Rizzo missed the ALDS after fracturing two fingers on his right hand when he was hit by a pitch in the penultimate game of the regular season. It's fair to assume he's operating at less than 100 percent given the incident occurred just over two weeks ago, but he's feeling well enough to give it a shot as the Yankees' regular first baseman.
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Yankees' Anthony Rizzo: Included on ALCS roster
Rotowire
Rizzo (fingers) is on the Yankees' roster for the ALCS against the Guardians.
Rizzo suffered two fractured fingers on his right hand during the second-to-last game of the regular season, but he has been cleared for game action barely more than two weeks after the incident. The 35-year-old will regain his starting job at first base, shifting Oswaldo Cabrera and Jon Berti to bench roles.
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Yankees' Anthony Rizzo: Could return for ALCS
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Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Sunday that Rizzo (finger) could be on New York's ALCS roster, Meredith Marakovits of YES Network reports.
Rizzo fractured two fingers on his right hand late in the regular season and wasn't part of the Yankees' roster for their ALDS victory versus Kansas City. He resumed baseball activities in early October and is set to ramp up further Sunday, per Boone, but his inclusion on the ALCS roster is far from a certainty. If he does return for the series against the Guardians, he would likely take over the starting role at first base, which was handled twice each by Oswaldo Cabrera and Jon Berti during the ALDS.
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Yankees' Anthony Rizzo: Not part of ALDS roster
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Rizzo (fingers) said he will not be included on the Yankees' ALDS roster for the team's matchup with the Royals, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.
Two of Rizzo's fingers on his right hand were fractured after he was hit by a pitch in the penultimate game of the regular season, and he has yet to resume baseball activities, per Bryan Hoch of MLB.com. RIzzo admitted Friday that he hadn't progressed far enough in his recovery to contribute at a high level, though he did express optimism that he could return should the Yankees make it to the ALCS, according to Meredith Marakovits of YES Network. Ben Rice and Oswaldo Cabrera will likely serve as the Yankees' main options at first base in the ALDS.
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Yankees' Anthony Rizzo: Yet to resume baseball activities
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Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said Thursday that Rizzo (fingers) has yet to resume baseball activities, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.
Rizzo suffered two fractured fingers on his right hand when he was hit by a pitch in the penultimate game of the regular season. He remains a longshot to be included on the ALDS roster, but the ALCS would seemingly be more realistic if the Yankees are able to advance. Ben Rice and Oswaldo Cabrera are in line to handle first base for the ALDS.
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Yankees' Anthony Rizzo: Unlikely to play in ALDS
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Rizzon (fractured finger) is not expected to be available for the ALDS, Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News reports.
Rizzo is viewed as a "long shot" to be available for the Yankees' first series of the postseason according to manager Aaron Boone. The first baseman suffered a fractured finger in Saturday's 9-4 loss to Pittsburgh and if he's unavailable, Ben Rice will likely remain with the team to open the postseason.
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Yankees' Anthony Rizzo: Still on active roster
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The Yankees opted not to place Rizzo (fractured finger) on the injured list Sunday in order to keep the possibility alive that he could be an option for the ALDS, Jorge Castillo of ESPN.com reports.
Rizzo's availability will reportedly depend on pain tolerance. Ben Rice was recalled to start at first base Sunday in Rizzo's place, and the rookie could replace him on the postseason roster if the veteran first baseman can't give it a go.
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Yankees' Anthony Rizzo: Suffers fractured finger
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Rizzo was diagnosed with a fractured finger after leaving Saturday's game against the Pirates, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.
Rizzo suffered the injury after getting hit in the hand by a pitch during the seventh inning. Manager Aaron Boone said after the game that Rizzo's injury doesn't necessarily rule him out for the start of New York's playoff run, and the first baseman's availability will depend on pain tolerance. That being said, it's likely he sits out Sunday's regular-season finale.
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Yankees' Anthony Rizzo: Leaves game after HBP
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Rizzo was removed from Saturday's game against the Pirates after getting hit in the hand by a pitch, Chris Kirschner of The Athletic reports.
Rizzo took an 88-mph slider off his right hand during the seventh inning. He initially remained in the game to run the bases but was replaced on defense once New York took the field to begin the eighth. The severity of his injury remains unknown, but if he ends up having to miss Sunday's season finale, Oswaldo Cabrera would likely be the next man up to start at first base for the Yankees.
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Yankees' Anthony Rizzo: Exits starting nine
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Rizzo is absent from the lineup for Friday's game versus the Pirates.
Rizzo had been in the lineup for each of the previous four tilts, reaching base eight times, but he'll get a day off Friday. Oswaldo Cabrera is at first base and hitting ninth for the Yankees.
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Yankees' Anthony Rizzo: Resting versus lefty
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Rizzo isn't in the Yankees' lineup Saturday versus Oakland.
The lefty-hitting Rizzo will take a seat Saturday against the lefty-throwing JP Sears while Oswaldo Cabrera starts at first base and bats eighth.
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Yankees' Anthony Rizzo: Out of Sunday's lineup
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Rizzo is not in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Red Sox.
Rizzo started the previous 10 games but will hit the bench Sunday after going 5-for-33 with one double and four walks during that span. Oswaldo Cabrera will take over at first base and bat eighth in the series finale versus Boston.
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Yankees' Anthony Rizzo: Out against left-hander
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Rizzo is absent from the lineup for Tuesday's game versus the Rangers.
Rizzo started each of the first two games off the injured list against right-handers but will begin Tuesday's game on the bench as the Rangers send lefty Andrew Heaney to the hill. DJ LeMahieu will draw the start at first base Tuesday.
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Yankees' Anthony Rizzo: Activated, will start Sunday
Rotowire
The Yankees reinstated Rizzo (forearm) from the 60-day injured list Sunday. He'll start at first base and bat seventh in the Yankees' series finale with the Cardinals.
After Saturday's 6-5 loss to St. Louis, New York optioned Ben Rice to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to reopen a spot on the active roster for Rizzo, who had been on the shelf since June 18 with a right forearm fracture. Rizzo avoided surgery to treat the injury and kicked off a rehab assignment at Double-A Somerset on Aug. 23, with the 35-year-old going 2-for-13 with a solo home run and a 2:6 BB:K in six games in the minors before being activated. Rizzo should replace Rice as the Yankees' primary first baseman against right-handed pitching, though he could lose work versus lefties to either DJ LeMahieu or Oswaldo Cabrera. Before being shut down in June, Rizzo was in the midst of a rough season at the plate, with his .630 OPS over 291 plate appearances representing his worst mark since his 2011 rookie campaign with the Padres.
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Yankees' Anthony Rizzo: Expected back Sunday
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Yankees manager Aaron Boone said after Saturday's 6-5 loss to the Cardinals that Rizzo (forearm) will "likely" be activated Sunday, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.
Rizzo has been out since mid-June with a fractured right forearm, but he is now on the verge of activation after a handful of rehab games in the minors. While Rizzo's performance has declined dramatically in recent years, he figures to slot back in as the team's primary first baseman, especially with fill-in Ben Rice struggling mightily of late. Rizzo sits with a .223/.289/.341 slash line and eight homers through 291 plate appearances this season.
