Yankees still have a first base decision to make in quest for Anthony Rizzo replacement

There’s not only a Juan Soto-sized hole in the Yankees’ lineup roughly halfway through the offseason — they also have to figure out first base.With Anthony Rizzo and his $6 million buyout leaving him a free agent, the Yankees could still turn to the Cubs and look for a trade for Cody Bellinger.As The Post’s Jon Heyman reported, the Yankees remain in conversations with Chicago regarding the 29-year-old Bellinger, who is coming off a solid — but unspectacular — season.There is still a gap in terms of how much the Cubs will be asked to pay down the two years and $52.5 million Bellinger has remaining on his deal, according to Heyman, especially coming off a season in which his production slipped after a bounceback 2023.And Bellinger also fits the Yankees roster because of his ability to play both the outfield and first base.Without Soto, the Yankees can move Aaron Judge back to right field and have Jasson Dominguez in center, but Dominguez hasn’t proven himself on an everyday basis at the major league level.Bellinger has extensive experience in the majors in right and center, as well as first base — although he started just 13 games at first last season.The Cubs are coming off their acquisition of Kyle Tucker from the Astros and if Bellinger doesn’t end up in The Bronx, the Yankees could turn to a more traditional first baseman.At the top of the free agent list are Pete Alonso and Christian Walker.Carlos Santana is also on the open market.Cleveland’s Josh Naylor and Nathaniel Lowe of the Rangers could be attainable in trades, each with left-handed swings that have interested the Yankees in the past.Clearly, the Yankees need an upgrade at the position, since the combination of injuries to Rizzo and ineffectiveness of DJ LeMahieu and rookie Ben Rice left the team with the lowest OPS among first basemen in the majors (.594) last season.Asked about the roster on Friday following the announcement of the acquisition of closer Devin Williams from Milwaukee...