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Latest On Anthony Rizzo

By Nick Deeds | September 29, 2024 at 3:23pm CDT

TODAY: The Yankees didn’t place Rizzo on the injured list, instead optioning Scott Effross to Triple-A to call up Rice.  Boone described Rizzo’s chances of playing in the ALDS as a “long shot,” in speaking with Hoch and other reporters today.

SEPT 28: Manager Aaron Boone told reporters (including MLB.com’s Bryan Hoch) following today’s loss to the Pirates that first baseman Anthony Rizzo sustained two fractured fingers when he was struck by a pitch from Pittsburgh lefty Ryan Borucki. Hoch later added that, per Boone, the first baseman had actually fractured both his fourth and fifth fingers on his right hand. Rizzo exited the game following the incident, and it’s not yet clear when he’ll be able to return to the diamond. As noted by Hoch, Boone did not rule Rizzo out for the club’s upcoming postseason push.

“We’ll see what we have as the week moves forward,” Boone said. “It doesn’t totally rule him out. It’s a pain tolerance thing.”

It’s the latest injury-related setback for Rizzo in what has become a series of frustrating injuries during his tenure with the Yankees. After an eight-season stretch in Chicago where Rizzo was rarely injured, appearing in 94% of the Cubs’ regular season games from 2013 to his trade to the Bronx in 2021, the veteran first baseman has been far less available throughout his tenure with the Yankees. While he managed 130 games in his first full season with the club in 2022, his past two years have been marred with post-concussion syndrome and a fractured forearm that both set him down for multiple months, leaving him to appear in less than 60% of the club’s contests over the past two years.

Those injury issues have coincided with a downturn in performance for the 35-year-old, who this year is slashing just .227/.298/.334 through 91 games. It’s his worst showing in a season since the 49-game cup of coffee with San Diego that kicked off his lengthy big league career, and a far cry from the production the Yankees were surely hoping to get from him when they signed him to a two-year deal that guaranteed him $40MM prior to the 2023 season. With that being said, even losing a diminished version of Rizzo is still a blow to the Yankees’ lineup headed into the postseason.

After all, the club got lackluster production from a combination of Ben Rice and DJ LeMahieu at first base in Rizzo’s absence; only the Rockies posted a lower wRC+ at first base than the 76 the Yankees put up in Rizzo’s absence, and the club’s -1.1 fWAR at the position put them ahead of only the Astros among all AL clubs. It should also be noted that while Rizzo has hardly been the middle-of-the-lineup force he was earlier in his career since returning to the lineup on September 1, he has hit better overall with a .247/.345/.315 slash line in 84 plate appearances. That’s good for a wRC+ more than 15 points higher than the figures put up by Rice and LeMahieu’s combined efforts in his absence.

If Rizzo is healthy enough to take the field for the Yankees when the ALDS begins on October 5, it seems likely that he’ll be the best option the club has available at first base. Failing that, however, Hoch notes that Boone did confirm that Rice would be an option for the club’s postseason roster. A 25-year-old rookie, Rice is a bat-first catcher that has begun to move over to first base in recent years in part to accommodate the rapid advance of his offense. The youngster has slashed a sensational .294/.428/.661 in 30 games at the Triple-A level this year after posting similarly excellent numbers in 97 career games at the Double-A level, but he’s hit just .174/.269/.356 in a 49-game cup of coffee over the summer.

That figure includes a somewhat stronger .184/.265/.395 slash line in 132 trips to the plate against righties at the major league level. That could make him an excellent choice for a lefty-mashing platoon partner, but with LeMahieu on the IL amid a career-worst season that saw him hit just .164/.235/.206 against southpaws there aren’t many good options for that role. One possibility would be utility man Jon Berti, who sports a decent .250/.328/.384 career slash line against lefty pitching, but it would be a bold choice for the club to put Berti at first base with zero experience at the position in the middle of the playoffs, even considering his exceptional positional versatility. Switch-hitter Oswaldo Cabrera has some experience at first base and even replaced Rizzo there following his exit today, but he’s hit just .206/.251/.306 against southpaws to this point in his career.

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New York Yankees Anthony Rizzo Ben Rice

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67 Comments

  1. Non Roster Invitee

    10 months ago

    Activate D.J.

    3
    Reply
    • CravenMoorehead

      10 months ago

      NOOOOOOO 🙁

      15
      Reply
  2. CravenMoorehead

    10 months ago

    As inconsistent as Ben Rice has been I will take him all day over DJ LeMahieu at this point. LeMahieu simply cannot appear in any playoff game for this team if they’re truly serious about winning.

    16
    Reply
    • Joe says...

      10 months ago

      I know he doesn’t have many games at first but I’d rather have Cabrera than DJ or Rice.

      4
      Reply
      • CravenMoorehead

        10 months ago

        Literally. Arrest LeMahieu if he’s anywhere near the stadium on game day.

        12
        Reply
        • ctbronx7

          10 months ago

          LeMahieu will be the everyday 1st baseman in the ALDS. He makes a ton of money and remains a personal favorite of Boone — all due to quality seasons three and four years ago.

          4
          Reply
      • larkraxm

        10 months ago

        Agreed. He looked pretty good at first yesterday. Either way, it is clear that we won’t be getting any offense out of that position, even if Rizzo was not injured. That said, which is the best option for defense at first base? I still think it is Cabrera.

        1
        Reply
    • jerseyjohn

      10 months ago

      Rice also was still taking his walks. I’d plug him in tomorrow and go to battle. Cabrera is an option albeit not very exciting. If Berti appears at 1st I’d be amazed. That’s a horrible idea…

      1
      Reply
  3. danrobertori

    10 months ago

    Rizzo’s time with the Yankees is over. It’s been really terrible. You would think he would make adjustments to his batting stance since he sits right on top of the plate. Hardly know who we can trade for in the offseason

    4
    Reply
    • sad tormented neglected mariners fan

      10 months ago

      An old first baseman that has contact issues nowadays! Mariners think it’s another Carlos Santana! He’d fit right in!

      4
      Reply
      • ctyank7

        10 months ago

        Makes sense; he grew up in the Fort Lauderdale area.

        Reply
    • Logjammer D"Baggagecling

      10 months ago

      You can have Patrick Wisdom. Don’t want anything back. Just take him and make him the clubhouse jersey washer. Or a ball dude down one of the lines. Maybe he can get a 9-5 as a delivery man for Uber Eats

      1
      Reply
      • sad tormented neglected mariners fan

        10 months ago

        Id take wisdom that last name makes him sound like a smart guy which means he has great plate discipline, oh wait…

        Actually though wisdom would be better than a struggling Josh Rojas/luis Urias at 3rd base or a struggling Tyler locklear at 1st

        Reply
    • ncaachampillini

      10 months ago

      Don’t you have a 121 loss team to go watch?

      In 8,400 at bats Konerko had a career 28.1 WAR.

      In 6,300 career at bats Rizzo has a 39.8 career WAR.

      You my friend aren’t even close to accurate.

      8
      Reply
      • vtadave

        10 months ago

        ok weirdo, but Rizzo still better

        5
        Reply
      • larkraxm

        10 months ago

        Carl Winslow’s eye test is better than your silly statistical analysis. Konerko, then Mantle, then Griffey Jr.

        2
        Reply
      • ncaachampillini

        10 months ago

        Yeah I know Konerko was a cult hero to those South side fans. Nice guy, decent player, big World Series grand slam. But anybody with a brain would take Rizzo over Paulie. Rizzo has 3 or 4 gold gloves too. I doubt Konerko ever jaded even one.

        2
        Reply
      • Blue Baron

        10 months ago

        Carl Witless: Odds are you grew up in the ghetto without a father. How many different baby daddies got your mom pregnant?

        2
        Reply
    • ctbronx7

      10 months ago

      I’d like to see Verdugo or Dominguez get a chance to play 1B in ‘25.

      Reply
      • YankeesBleacherCreature

        10 months ago

        Verdugo as a free agent will be elsewhere in ’25 and Dominguez is a waste at 1B with his speed and a work in progress outfielder.

        2
        Reply
        • ctyank7

          10 months ago

          Verdugo will be back in the Bromx next year. The GM for Life loves him and will likely offer him three years, $45-50 million.

          Reply
        • Anthony maresca

          10 months ago

          Lmfao how much you have to lose? Verdugo will not sniff anywhere close to $15-17 million avv. He is a $10-12 million avv yr player and that’s a big IF!

          Reply
      • sad tormented neglected mariners fan

        10 months ago

        Spencer jones would be better at 1st

        1
        Reply
        • YankeesBleacherCreature

          10 months ago

          Jones hasn’t proven he can hit above AA yet.

          Reply
        • jerseyjohn

          10 months ago

          Please… Dude is an excellent CF with a great arm, let’s put him at 1st. He also needs about 600 more Ab’s in the minors to get his K rate under control.

          Reply
        • ctyank7

          10 months ago

          Jones was a force in the Eastern League during the second half of the season. Plus, opposing managers kept pitching around him. Don’t be surprised if, like LuisAngel Acuna, he hits better in the majors than the minors.

          Reply
    • jerseyjohn

      10 months ago

      I’d stop well short of terrible. He’s old and beat up now. Finding someone for 1st is as easy as finding someone for Lf. You’re at the bottom of the defensive spectrum. Rice should be given a shot, can find someone to plug in there and be replacement level if he tanks.

      Reply
    • Mad Hatter

      10 months ago

      Horrible? C’mon man, he’s been far from that. Add up his offense and defense and he’s been a good Yankee.

      Reply
    • b00giem@n

      10 months ago

      Baez Rizzo and Bryant, that Cubs core has honestly been terrible since their series win. Schwarber has been ok but still a terrible AVG.

      Reply
    • Logjammer D"Baggagecling

      10 months ago

      No he wasn’t.

      Reply
  4. jerseyjohn

    10 months ago

    Rice!

    1
    Reply
    • Susannah

      10 months ago

      Noodle!

      3
      Reply
      • Armaments216

        10 months ago

        Rizzo d’oh!

        1
        Reply
  5. Jerry Hairston Jr's Toupee

    10 months ago

    I doubt Rizzo with broken fingers is the best 1st base option at the plate. Can’t imagine his production will be anywhere near where it was….

    Reply
  6. Acoss1331

    10 months ago

    Here comes DJ to the rescue! Good luck Yankees fans, Boone is extremely loyal to DJ, but hopefully Boone gets Cabrera in at first base.

    Reply
    • Anthony maresca

      10 months ago

      If Boone wants to save is career he will need to avoid Holmes and DJ cause 1 blown save or Hold and DJ goes 0-16 in ALDS Boone will be fired

      1
      Reply
      • Acoss1331

        10 months ago

        Boone can’t help himself, he’s going to put Clay in a high-leverage situation and cost the Yankees a win.

        Reply
  7. whyhayzee

    10 months ago

    It’s a pain tolerance thing.

    2
    Reply
  8. Troy Percival's iPad

    10 months ago

    … Someone would make a killing as a minor league hitting coordinator teaching guys to get out of the f***ing way

    1
    Reply
  9. YankeesBleacherCreature

    10 months ago

    Terrible way for Rizzo to end his Yankees career.

    8
    Reply
    • CravenMoorehead

      10 months ago

      Especially a class act like him. He’s had a wonderful career but he’s breaking down physically. Regardless I wish him the best no matter what he decides on for 2025.

      10
      Reply
  10. randy g

    10 months ago

    Nice guy no loss. Our 1st baseman should hit .260. 25 hrs and 90 RBI’s. Jim Thome’s better at this point

    Reply
  11. Citizen1

    10 months ago

    This time of year good hitters get hbp from Angry non playoff teams. Just bench them or add a large sponge on the hand/wrist or a football.

    1
    Reply
    • stymeedone

      10 months ago

      “This tome of year good hitters get hbp from Angry non playoff teams.”

      What does that have to do with Rizzo? Judge or Soto you may have a case. Rizzo has been terrible. Joey Gallo without the power.

      1
      Reply
    • User 537097019

      10 months ago

      What a dumb take. Instead of carping about how Judge struck out 5 times against 5 different pitchers today or how Soto ran the bases like a 7 year old when the Yankees were starting to put pressure on or how Gil got hammered for 5 homers, this is your take?
      Grow up

      4
      Reply
    • its_happening

      10 months ago

      The closer one stands to the plate, the greater the chance he will get hit by a pitch. Rizzo does crowd the plate.

      8
      Reply
      • UWPSUPERFAN77

        10 months ago

        Hard to change an old tiger’s stipes(habits).!

        Reply
  12. top jimmy

    10 months ago

    Put Berti at 1B. He would bring some much needed speed and on base skills to this lineup.

    1
    Reply
    • YankeesBleacherCreature

      10 months ago

      He’s never played there. Too late for tryouts.

      1
      Reply
      • top jimmy

        9 months ago

        Cabrera had never started a game at 1B until this year when Rice got demoted and Rizzo was on the IL. So, he’s basically “trying out” there too right now. Any good defensive middle infielder (like Berti) can handle 1B.

        Reply
    • whyhayzee

      10 months ago

      He could chase down those wild throws lickety split. Keep the guy from getting to third base.

      Reply
  13. alwaysgo4two

    10 months ago

    As I’m watching the game and it was in the later innings, I’m saying to myself why isn’t Boone pulling the starters? Skenes was gone, no reason to not pull a couple. Then he gets hit.

    1
    Reply
    • YankeesBleacherCreature

      10 months ago

      I have no idea. And Judge wins the platinum sombero. They weren’t trying to win this game by allowing Warren in.

      1
      Reply
  14. Slider_withcheese

    10 months ago

    It was slightly inside but didn’t look like Rizzo even tried to get out of the way. Just kind of pulled his bat in a bit. Notorious for leaning over the plate to get a hbp and this one could cost him.

    4
    Reply
  15. Rsox

    10 months ago

    I have to believe the Yankees pay the $6 million buyout rather than the $17 million option for next season which would put them in the market for a First Baseman. Do they roll with Rice or would the try to get the Polar Bear to trade in his pinstripes in Queens for a set in the Bronx

    Reply
    • Anthony maresca

      9 months ago

      My thoughts exactly as I see Soto and Alonso switching boro’s however only way Yankees signing Alonso is if his tag is in the 5/125 range or hard pass as his 180 K’s alarming. Christian Walker for 2/36-40 is my preference so they can add Snell on a 4/110 deal. Adding Walker and Snell makes them a dangerous team.

      Reply
  16. UWPSUPERFAN77

    10 months ago

    Sadly, the end of his career in NY. I dreaded him as an opponent when he was a CUB. Certain Buyout. Not worth more than his buyout, so any contract offers will be low. Good Luck! You have had a good career!

    Reply
  17. Mikenmn

    10 months ago

    Rizzo never quite achieved with the Yankees–one good season out of three plus part of a fourth, and now it looks like he won’t in the future. Aggregate 3.4 BWAR for the Yankees.

    1
    Reply
  18. SadMsFan

    10 months ago

    I feel really bad for Rizzo and all he’s been through with the injuries, and the cancer he had when he was younger. He’s battled through a lot, including the concussion from the Tatis play in 2023 and then this season he had the broken arm from the Bernardino collision, and now this. Plus, he is currently 35-he’s not in his prime. Some people on here could show the man a little more respect and empathy. He’s earned that respect and is definitely on #TeamHardcore or #TeamLiveBadass, whichever you prefer. Plus, overall, he’s had a very good career, and is a three time all star and world champion. #ThankYouRizzo

    5
    Reply
    • baseballpurist

      10 months ago

      #Interesting #Take

      Reply
  19. Dumpster Divin Theo

    10 months ago

    Glass

    Reply
  20. Dumpster Divin Theo

    10 months ago

    Overpay

    Reply
  21. RazzleDazzle

    10 months ago

    Perplexing how they stood pat at trade deadline irt 1B

    Clearly Rizzo is done … DJ is done … and Ben Rice is too early to tell but does not look like a replacement level 1B to these eyes.

    As scary as Soto/Judge are, the rest of the lineup are easy outs excepting for Chisolm. Totally see the yanks getting bounced by either BAL or DET in the DS.

    Reply
  22. denistaylor

    10 months ago

    Maybe we can give Goldschmidt a shot at first next year.

    1
    Reply
    • YankeesBleacherCreature

      10 months ago

      It’s Ben Rice’s job to lose now. A bit unfair to him to be thrown into the playoffs. Not sure what Goldy wants but he’s an option. If they sign him, then Rice needs to be traded. The doomers here will say Goldy is another Josh Donaldson.

      2
      Reply
  23. yanks2323

    9 months ago

    Watched a vid of Rizzo today yell at a kid and he’s lost me. I don’t care if he returns!

    Reply
  24. Ok Yankees Fan

    9 months ago

    Rizzo gone. LeMehuie gone. Rice not ready for full time. Meet your new first baseman of the New York Yankees … Alex Vedugo.

    Reply

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