Speaking in an interview with The Athletic this week, longtime first baseman Anthony Rizzo said that he’s over hand issues that hampered him late last season and that he doesn’t want to retire.
But Rizzo, still a free agent, recognizes that the market is tough on older players and that he may not get a call at all.
“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.”
Free agent Anthony Rizzo: “I want to play. I want to win.” With @BrendanKutyNJ https://t.co/vEG9ALLL2N
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) February 22, 2025
Rizzo, 35, is coming off a down year with the New York Yankees in which he hit .228 with eight homers and 35 RBI, but it’s still shocking to see him not even a garner a minor league deal yet. A four-time Gold Glover, a Platinum Glove winner, a Silver Slugger, and a three-time All-Star, Rizzo has one of the best resumes around. Furthermore, he’s a World Series champion (Cubs – 2016), who knows how to win and provides solid veteran leadership. That’s valuable in clubhouses today.
At this point, Rizzo’s best bet might be to see if a team suffers an injury in spring training. It’s tough to think about about getting a shot because of someone else’s misfortunes, but that’s the reality in professional baseball.
Spring training games began earlier this week and every team will have played by the time the weekend ends.
The regular season begins March 27.
WRIGHT SIDELINED: Kyle Wright, already working back from a serious shoulder injury, has suffered a hamstring setback with the Kansas City Royals, likely taking him out of the mix for the Opening Day rotation. CLICK HERE:
OHTANI UPDATE: According to manager Dave Roberts, Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani is going to stick in the leadoff spot this season. CLICK HERE:
JOE KELLY FUTURE: Joe Kelly, who has won three World Series titles, might be ready to hang ’em up because of lingering shoulder issues. CLICK HERE:
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