Anthony Rizzo Is Healthy And Wants To Play In 2025
Back in February, The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal and Brendan Kuty reported that free-agent first baseman Anthony Rizzo is healthy and wants to continue playing in 2025. However, even at just 35 years old, Rizzo knows the end of his career might be approaching. The 14-year veteran became a free agent when the Yankees declined his $17 million option, instead giving him a $6 million buyout. After two injury-marred seasons the last two years, Rizzo understands why his market hasn't been robust, and he remains available after the start of the regular season. He dealt with concussion issues, two fractured fingers in his hand and a fractured forearm the last two years. While Rizzo is healthy now and would love to continue his major-league career, he also said he's not going to ruin the market for veterans that come after him and settle for a minimum contract.
The New York Yankees are declining their 2025 club option on first baseman Anthony Rizzo. Rizzo had one of the worst seasons of his career this summer as he posted an underwhelming .228/.301/.335 line with eight home runs, 35 RBI, with a 27:65 BB:K ratio. Under the hood, Rizzo saw his metrics dropped to career lows with a 33.2% hard-hit rate and a mere .239 xBA. In addition, since hitting 32 home runs in 2022, Rizzo has hit just 20 long balls over the past two summers with a season-low of eight in 2024. Fantasy managers should expect the former World Series Champion to find a new home in 2025, but he is best left for deeper formats, given his sharp decline.
New York Yankees first baseman Anthony Rizzo (fingers) said the days off this week before the World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers have been valuable in helping his broken fingers heal. "The biggest thing is getting the swelling out between games. It really blows up from the pressure. The bones are still broken, but to be able to get the swelling out has been key," Rizzo said. The 35-year-old left-handed slugger fractured two fingers on his right hand in the second-to-last game of the regular season and was held out of the American League Division Series before going 6-for-14 with a double, two walks and a run scored in five games (four starts) in the AL Championship Series against the Cleveland Guardians. He should be good to go to start in Game 1 of the World Series against the Dodgers, and the Yankees will need Rizzo's bat to keep up with LA's high-powered offense in the series.
New York Yankees first baseman Anthony Rizzo and catcher Austin Wells are both back in the starting lineup for Game 4 of the American League Championship Series on Friday at Progressive Field against Cleveland Guardians right-hander Gavin Williams. Rizzo and Wells, both lefty hitters, took a seat in the Game 3 loss with a left-hander on the mound. Rizzo fractured two fingers at the end of the regular season and didn't play in the AL Division Series. He's gone 3-for-7 with a double, two walks and a run scored in three games in the ALCS. Wells has just two hits in 28 trips to the plate this postseason with two RBI, two walks and 12 K's. Rizzo has never faced Williams in his career, while Wells has a single and a strikeout in two at-bats. Rizzo is batting sixth on Friday, with Wells in the eight-hole as the Yankees look to take a commanding 3-1 lead in the series.
New York Yankees first baseman Anthony Rizzo is not in the starting lineup for Game 3 of the American League Championship Series on Thursday at Progressive Field against the Cleveland Guardians with left-hander Matthew Boyd on the mound. Jon Berti will get the nod at first base and will bat sixth in the order. Rizzo fractured two fingers on his hand in the second-to-last game of the regular season and sat out of the AL Division Series against the Kansas City Royals. In the first two games of the ALCS, he went 3-for-7 with a double, a walk and a run scored. Berti will be appearing in the ALCS for the first time after going 2-for-7 with a walk and a strikeout in the ALDS. He has never faced Boyd in his career and went 7-for-27 (.259) with no homers or RBI in 30 plate appearances against southpaws in limited action during the regular season.
New York Yankees first baseman Anthony Rizzo went 2-for-4 with a double and a run scored in Tuesday's 6-3 win over the Guardians. The veteran didn't play in the ALDS after suffering fractured fingers at the end of the regular season but has shown no ill effects in his two games in the ALCS since returning. The veteran went 1-for-3 with a walk in Game 1 on Monday as well. If he's in the lineup Thursday for Game 3 in Cleveland, the 3x All-Star will likely see LHP Matthew Boyd who he's 1-for-3 off of lifetime.
New York Yankees first baseman Anthony Rizzo is making a second straight start at first base and will hit eighth for Game 2 of the American League Championship Series on Tuesday at Yankee Stadium against the Cleveland Guardians and right-hander Tanner Bibee. Rizzo fractured a couple fingers on his right hand when he was hit by a pitch on the second-to-last regular season game and wasn't included on the roster for the AL Division Series against the Kansas City Royals. The 35-year-old returned for the Game 1 win over the Guardians on Monday, though, and went 1-for-3 with a walk in the 5-2 victory. The Yankees pulled Rizzo early on Monday as a precaution. The fact that he's back in the lineup for Game 2 means he didn't suffer a setback with his fingers. In two career at-bats against Bibee, Rizzo has a single. Rizzo's DFS fantasy appeal will be lowered as long as he continues to hit near the bottom of the lineup.
Anthony Rizzo Makes Yankees ALCS Roster, Starting In Game 1
New York Yankees first baseman Anthony Rizzo (fingers) was included on the team's roster for the American League Championship Series against the Cleveland Guardians and will start at first base and bat eighth in Game 1 on Monday at Yankee Stadium against Guardians right-hander Alex Cobb. Rizzo fractured two fingers on his right hand during a hit-by-pitch at the tail end of the regular season and was unavailable to play in the AL Division Series versus the Kansas City Royals. The 35-year-old veteran is back now, though, although he'll hit lower in the Yankees' lineup, making him much harder to trust for DFS purposes. He also missed extended time during the regular season due to a fractured forearm and hit just .228 (77-for-337) with eight homers and 35 RBI in his 92 games played. In just four career at-bats against Cobb, Rizzo has a single, a walk and a strikeout.
New York Yankees first baseman Anthony Rizzo (fingers) is a candidate to be added to the ALCS roster ahead of Game 1 on Monday. Rizzo is working his way back from fractures in multiple fingers after being hit by a pitch on the final weekend of the regular season, and he appears to be nearly ready to return. The Yankees would love to have him back, as they have been using a combination of Jon Berti and Oswaldo Cabrera to fill in for the lefty and could use a boost. He would likely slot into the back half of the lineup if he returns Monday.
New York Yankees first baseman Anthony Rizzo (fingers) told reporters on Friday that he won't be on the ALDS roster. Rizzo was hit by a pitch last Saturday in the Yankees' matchup against the Pittsburgh Pirates and fractured multiple fingers. The 35-year-old is confident, though, that if the Yankees advance to the ALCS that he would be able to contribute. Rizzo hit for an underwhelming 81 OPS+ in the regular season, though his prior postseason success would have potentially been a decent boost for the Yankees. With Rizzo out, it is expected that Ben Rice will get the start at first base. Rice exploded onto the scene when he debuted in June, but he tapered off and hit only for a 72 OPS+ when all was said and done. DFS managers willing to take a risk on Rice may not like the results they get as the Royals' pitching staff allowed just one run in their two-game sweep of the Baltimore Orioles in the wild card round.
