The New York Yankees signed Paul Goldschmidt to a one-year, $12 million deal this winter, moving on from Anthony Rizzo. The Yankees declined his $17 million club option and gave him a $6 million buyout.
Rizzo remains a free agent, and the 35-year-old has acknowledged his career could be over, according to The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal. However, he was very clear when he described what he wanted for his future.
“I want to play,” Rizzo told Rosenthal.
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Rizzo was acquired by the Yankees in 2021 from the Chicago Cubs. Rizzo was a three-time All-Star, Four-time Gold Glover, Silver Slugger, Platinum Glover and World Series champion with the Cubs. He spent three full seasons as the Yankees starting first baseman, but injuries heavily impacted him. Rizzo accepted that his injuries have played a role in his quiet market.
“Two years ago, I had kind of a weird year with the concussion,” Rizzo told Rosenthal. “Then last year, I was hurt twice. My power numbers dropped. I’m surprised, but not like crazy surprised just because I’m a realist in the game and you’re getting older. The fact that teams want you to play for basically league minimum ($760,000), I’m like, you guys are crazy. You’re almost trying to ruin the market for the next guy.”
Rizzo’s concussion is where many fans point when they try to figure out where his numbers started to decline. Rizzo is no longer the player he once was, but he is a valuable veteran presence and a solid bench player at the least.
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