The Yankees will not carry Anthony Rizzo on their roster for the Division Series against the Royals, the first baseman told reporters (X link via Chris Kirschner of the Athletic). Rizzo broke two fingers on his right hand when he was hit by a pitch late in the regular season. The veteran said he was hopeful of being available for the AL Championship Series if the Yankees get past Kansas City.
This has been a frustrating year for Rizzo, who missed a couple months during the summer with a broken right arm. He hasn’t performed well even when healthy, hitting .228/.301/.335 over 375 plate appearances. Those are his worst numbers since his 2011 rookie campaign. It’s the second straight season in which Rizzo has struggled to make a significant offensive impact. He hit only .244/.328/.378 a year ago, in large part because he was apparently playing through post-concussion syndrome for a good portion of the season.
While Rizzo hasn’t played at anywhere near his peak level, he’s still an upgrade on New York’s other options at first base. Rookie Ben Rice primarily handled the job while Rizzo was out with the arm fracture. The 25-year-old has hit .171/.264/.349 through his first 50 MLB games, with almost all of his positive production concentrated in one three-homer game against the Red Sox. Rice’s fantastic numbers in the upper minors hint at a higher offensive ceiling that he has yet to show against MLB pitching.
Rice will probably again be the choice at first base, at least against right-handed pitching. The only other players to take any at-bats at first base this season are DJ LeMahieu, Oswaldo Cabrera and J.D. Davis. LeMahieu, who worked in the short side of a platoon with Rice, has been on the injured list for nearly a month because of a hip impingement.
Bryan Hoch of MLB.com tweeted this evening that LeMahieu was taking batting practice and hopes to be on the ALDS roster. Even if he does make it back, the Yanks probably won’t give him a ton of playing time. LeMahieu had a dismal season (.204/.269/.259 in 67 games) and won’t have the luxury of game reps to get up to speed. Cabrera is a light-hitting utility player, while Davis was released in August.
Enjoy retirement Tony!
Rizzo takes the KBO by storm in 2025
Better start learning to speak Korean, Anthony
Rice-a-Roni time !!
$600 Trillion payroll and they got nobody to play first base who can even hit .200?
That costs $700 Trillion
Got a feeling Cashman will bring in Paul Goldschmidt next year oof
Both fanbases will hate this, but Josh Naylor is entering his last year of arb. He hit 31 HRs this year and would probably do well in the short porch of Yankee Stadium. He would make a ton of sense for the Yankees, and the Guardians could stand to clear out some playing time for Manzardo while recouping some prospects. Especially if they then flip those prospects for something of need – if it wasn’t paywalled anymore I’d be whipping up a 3 way trade between Cleveland, the Yankees, and the White Sox for Crochet.
THEY COULD HAVE BROUGHT IN SFG LEGEND BRANDON BELT BUT NOOOOOOOO
Rice-Ozzy platoon with DJL pinch-hitting does not inspire much confidence.
My NY brother YBC, I have an interesting stat for you.
2024
Yankees record with LeMahieu: 33-34
Yankees record without LeMahieu: 60-32
NYPD needs to arrest him if he gets within 100 yards of Yankee Stadium.
Put Berti at 1B and hit him lead off. Small ball wins in the postseason.
Jimmy: hardest of no’s. If you’re gonna play someone at 1st with no experience make it Soto. Berti is a pinch runner for the playoffs, not getting ab’s out of position.
Rice was a catcher before this season. Cabrera never started at 1B until September. So dont act like the alternatives are gold glovers. They have to put someone inexperienced there. Any sure handed middle infielder (like Berti) should be able to handle it. Look at all the unathletic power hitters that have played 1B in the past. It’s not a demanding position. Might as well put someone there who gets on base at a high rate and brings much needed speed to the lineup.
You are giving half truths… Rice played games at 1st in the minors, college and during his MLB cameo. Oswaldo has had some games in MLB as well. I’m not putting Berti over there cold in the most important games of the season.
“Bryan Hoch of MLB.com tweeted this evening that LeMahieu was taking batting practice and hopes to be on the ALDS roster.”
NO NO NO
1B/3B fielding practice tomorrow 8(
The always-injured guys seem to always find their way back in time for the playoffs………
I dunno who was more frustrating to watch this year…Holmes or LeMahieu?
Blow a save or lose a groundball in the lights? Pick your poison Yankees fans.
Ben Rice is not a championship caiber major league player. Strictly a fill in and almost a guaranteed out.
Move Vedugo to first and platoon with LaMaheou. Rice not ready for the big lights of October…
Ben Rice it is, maybe he surprises us.
What a surprise…
Rub some dirt on it you big baby. A big fat ring is on the line.
Rizzo never seemingly recovered from the concussion, but the loss here shouldn’t be underestimated. His ABs were improving over the last week-and-a-half, slashing .385/.500/.462, with good contact. What they’ll really miss is his glove, which saved at least two wins on the west coast swing. The infielders were also no longer afraid to sling the ball toward first because they knew Rizzo would pick it. Defense is critical in low-scoring postseason games. Ben Rice is a butcher at 1B. Unless he hits a lot, he’ll be a net negative.
Even before the concussion in the year before with the back injury, which I suspect is a chronic thing, you could see regression in AR’s play. When healthy an asset but the man’s body has been beat up for a couple of years now. Wise move to sit him.
It’s a fair point. Chisholm is range-y at 3B but he doesn’t have the best arm. If he’s deep in the hole, his throws to 1B always hit the dirt.
I like Rice’s bat long-term, and I’m sure his defense will improve with more reps (he’s a catcher by trade), but I am concerned neither his bat nor his glove is ready for prime-time postseason action. Prove me wrong, Ben! And hopefully Rice let’s John Sterling give us his HR call. “Rice, Rice, baby?” Nah, that’s too “new” for a Sterling call. Whatever it is, let’s hope to hear it at least a half a dozen times!
If none of their options are true 1B maybe they should give Jazz a try? While Berti or Cabrera handle 3B. DJL is break glass under emergency situation
Jazz has been above average at 3B both defensively and offensively. I wouldn’t mess with a strength to address a weakness with a plan which may not even work out esp. in the playoffs.
Yeah, it’s fun to get creative but better to dance with who you brought. You implied he’s got the glove for corner infield but not the best arm. They need a 1B and those two have played more 3B than jazz has in their careers.
People often overlook how important that Jazz Chisholm trade was this year. I’m usually 1 of his biggest critics but Cashman really made a great deal there (plus he’s not a free agent for a few seasons). Yankees needed his speed on the base paths and he’s capable of driving in runs too in the middle of the lineup.
Look to the future. It’s Bobby Dalbec time.
Only on a minor league contract.
As far as the Yankees go, Marcus Stroman has also been left off the ALDS roster.