MLB Rumors: Anthony Rizzo Still Unsigned; Career Might Be Over

February 24, 2025

Anthony Rizzo remains without a team as spring training gets underway, leaving his future in Major League Baseball uncertain. 

The 35-year-old first baseman, a three-time All-Star and four-time Gold Glove winner, has expressed his desire to keep playing but acknowledges the difficulty veterans face in free agency. “I think I have a lot to give to the game still,” Rizzo said. “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. They kind of get squeezed.” 

After two injury-plagued seasons, the Yankees declined his $17 million option, opting instead to sign Paul Goldschmidt. 

Since then, no serious offers have materialized, and Rizzo has turned down league-minimum deals, unwilling to accept a contract he believes could set a bad precedent for other free agents.

His recent struggles stem from injuries that limited his production, including a concussion in 2023 and a fractured forearm in 2024. 

He returned for the Yankees' postseason run despite playing through hand pain, finishing with a .421 on-base percentage but diminished power. 

In Game 5 of the World Series, a late-inning play where Mookie Betts beat him to first base led to a pivotal Yankees collapse, a moment Rizzo insists he wouldn’t have played differently. Even with these setbacks, teammates like Jazz Chisholm Jr. and Oswaldo Cabrera have praised his leadership and clubhouse presence. 

However, with no offers from contenders, Rizzo remains in limbo, unwilling to sign with a rebuilding team only to be traded midseason, especially with his wife expecting their first child in June.

Some Yankees fans have speculated about a return in a player-coach role, but Rizzo has made it clear that he still wants to compete. 

“I’m going to train until the season starts and even well into the season and see what happens,” he said. At this stage, he is left waiting, knowing the possibility that he may have already played his last game. 

“I’ve definitely thought about it,” Rizzo admitted. “I want to play. I want to win. We’ll just see if I continue playing.”

Photo Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

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