The news keeps going from bad to worse for the New York Yankees, who are facing the prospect of losing first baseman Anthony Rizzo. It has been reported that Rizzo will likely opt out of his contract with the Yankees.
This does not necessarily mean he will be leaving the Yankees, since re-signing is always a possibility.
However, the prospect of losing Rizzo has many Yankees fans nervous. When healthy, Rizzo is a defensive stalwart at first base and a terrific offensive player. With a whopping 32 home runs this past season, Rizzo has been able to produce at a high level. Players like that are at a premium in the MLB.
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The news of him likely opting out was reported by Jim Bowden of CBS Sports.
After being swept by the Houston Astros in the American League Championship Series, it is no surprise that attention has turned to the offseason. Turnover is always high in sports, but Rizzo is a player that New York Yankees fans do not want to see leave. After two years with the team, he has become a fan favorite.
New York Yankees fans are also staring at the possibility of losing superstar Aaron Judge this offseason. Rizzo and Judge have a very close relationship, and fans could see them going to a new team together. If this were to happen, the 2023 Yankees would look wildly different to their 2022 counterparts.
Anthony Rizzo was a critical piece of the Chicago Cubs' World Series team and hoped to have a similar impact for the Yankees. Now that their season has ended in a disappointing sweep, he could be looking to move on. After the great season that he had, he will likely receive offers from some of the top MLB teams.
The New York Yankees have some crucial decisions to make on the future of their team.
Anthony Rizzo leaving the New York Yankees could mark the beginning of a tumultuous offseason
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Anytime a season ends without a World Series win for the New York Yankees, changes are to be expected. If Rizzo does in fact decide to opt out, the Yankees will be losing a core player. While they do spend more than any other team in the MLB, there is no guarantee that they will find a suitable replacement.
Rizzo has been a leader for the Yankees, and his absence will be felt throughout the organization.