Yankees’ Anthony Rizzo Acknowledges He May Have to Retire


New York Yankees free agent first baseman Anthony Rizzo wants to keep playing. But he also acknowledged that his career could be over if teams don’t start calling with viable offers.

“I’ve definitely thought about (his career being over). I think I have a lot to give to the game still,” Rizzo said to The Athletic.

“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.”

More news: Yankees’ Facial Hair Policy Prevented Them From Signing Players, Says World Series Winning Pitcher

Anthony Rizzo
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – OCTOBER 28: Alex Verdugo #24 of the New York Yankees celebrates his two-run home run with teammate Anthony Rizzo #48 in the ninth inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers during…


Elsa/Getty Images

Rizzo, 35, has spent the last three-plus seasons with the Yankees after spending 10 years of his career with the Chicago Cubs. With Chicago, Rizzo was a three-time All-Star, a four-time Gold Glove award winner, and a one-time World Series champion.

Rizzo was solid with the Yankees in 2022, but had a freak concussion in 2023 that affected his performance. He also dealt with multiple injuries last year.

“Two years ago, I had kind of a weird year with the concussion,” Rizzo said to The Athletic. “Then last year, I was hurt twice. My power numbers dropped.”

Rizzo is a bit surprised about the lack of market he has, but also doesn’t want to take a deal that would ruin it for the next crop of players like him.

“I’m surprised, but not like crazy surprised just because I’m a realist in the game and you’re getting older,” Rizzo said. “The fact that teams want you to play for basically league minimum, I’m like, you guys are crazy. You’re almost trying to ruin the market for the next guy.”

Last season, Rizzo appeared in 92 games, slashing .228/.301/.335 with eight home runs and 35 runs batted in. With the Cubs, he was a perennial 25-plus home run hitter, and had a slash line of .272/.372/.489 across 1,308 games.

Now, Rizzo is hoping to continue his career, but understands it’s largely out of his control. While he’d love to find any job, he also is cognizant of the fact that his wife, Emily, is due to give birth on June 15. Thus, he’s less inclined to sign with a team that isn’t expecting to contend who would want to trade him at the deadline.

“I’m going to train until the season starts and even well into the season and see what happens,” Rizzo said. “I want to play. I want to win. And I love talking the game with pitchers, with hitters. There’s so much to dive into. Everything that goes into it, on the field, off the field, I’ll still be talking about it with guys. We’ll just see if I continue playing.”

More news: Dodgers Pitcher Hit in Head by 105.5 MPH Line Drive in Scary Cactus League Moment

For more MLB news, head over to Newsweek Sports.



Source link

  • Related Posts

    James Anderson, After Tormenting Virat Kohli For Years, Reacts To His Shock Test Retirement

    England fast bowling ace James Anderson has hailed Virat Kohli as one of the greatest batters to ever play Test cricket and feels that expressed confidence that India…

    Judge Reduces Menendez Brothers’ Murder Sentences

    A Los Angeles judge on Tuesday reduced the murder sentences of brothers Erik and Lyle Menendez, who were convicted of killing their parents in 1989. The Context The brothers were…

    You Missed

    James Anderson, After Tormenting Virat Kohli For Years, Reacts To His Shock Test Retirement

    • By admin
    • May 14, 2025
    • 0 views
    James Anderson, After Tormenting Virat Kohli For Years, Reacts To His Shock Test Retirement

    Judge Reduces Menendez Brothers’ Murder Sentences

    • By admin
    • May 14, 2025
    • 1 views
    Judge Reduces Menendez Brothers’ Murder Sentences

    Blow For BCCI As Cricket South Africa Takes Tough Stance On IPL 2026 Extension

    • By admin
    • May 14, 2025
    • 1 views
    Blow For BCCI As Cricket South Africa Takes Tough Stance On IPL 2026 Extension

    The Biggest Biden Bombshells From Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson’s New Book

    • By admin
    • May 14, 2025
    • 2 views
    The Biggest Biden Bombshells From Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson’s New Book

    Virat Kohli Spoke To Ajit Agarkar Twice, Decided To Quit Tests Over ‘Lack Of Freedom’: Report

    • By admin
    • May 14, 2025
    • 1 views
    Virat Kohli Spoke To Ajit Agarkar Twice, Decided To Quit Tests Over ‘Lack Of Freedom’: Report

    WNBA Star Caitlin Clark Opens Up on Bonding With Taylor Swift Through Chiefs Fandom

    • By admin
    • May 14, 2025
    • 3 views
    WNBA Star Caitlin Clark Opens Up on Bonding With Taylor Swift Through Chiefs Fandom