Anthony Rizzo Could Join His Old World Series Champion Teammate

Anthony Rizzo is still out there on the free agent market, but the former three-time All-Star and World Series champion is far from the player he once was. After a solid 2022 season with the New York Yankees, when he blasted 32 home runs with an .817 OPS, he's had a big fall from grace, batting around the .235 mark with a .670 OPS in the two years since.

The Yankees had no interest in bringing the 35-year-old back this season, and smartly declined his $17M team option.

It's not like poor-hitting first basemen can't get a job anymore in the majors, as Kerry Miller of Bleacher Report points out that Yuli Gurriel (.100 avg), and Rowdy Tellez (.083) are currently employed.

The difference, he notes, is that those guys are earning in the $1M range, while Rizzo had earned no less than $16M in each of the last four seasons. Is he ready to play for less?

If so, Miller suggests that a reunion with his 2016 Chicago Cubs World Series Champion teammate Kris Bryant could be in order — in Colorado.

The Rockies are desperate for some help at first base, as they sit near the bottom of the majors in every offensive category at the position, with zero homers, a .180 average and a .466 OPS, most of that attributable to Michael Toglia.

Could uniting Rizzo with Bryant rekindle any of the old spark among the duo? Bryant has been a huge bust since signing a 7-year, $182 million free agent contract with the Rockies in 2022. He's only averaged about 50 games per season, while hitting a total of 17 home runs over the 3+ seasons. In 2025, he's batting just .171 with no homers.

As for Rizzo, just one month ago, he told The Athletic, "I want to play," so retirement doesn't sound like an option for him just yet.

Colorado could certainly be a place where he might be able to recapture some of his offense.