Anthony Rizzo facing painful retirement reality, still not over Game 5 World Series play

The Yankees moved on from Anthony Rizzo over the winter, but the former All-Star first baseman still is looking for work as spring-training games have commenced.Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time texting with Greg Joyce about the inside buzz on the Yankees from spring training The 35-year-old Rizzo admits he has contemplated what would amount to a forced retirement if some MLB team does not come calling.“I’ve definitely thought about it.

I think I have a lot to give to the game still,” the 35-year-old Rizzo told The Athletic on Friday.“But at the same time, if teams are not going to want to pay a few million dollars for veterans, I’ve seen it the last 10 years of my career.

It’s what happens to the older guys.They kind of get squeezed.“You’ve seen it happen more and more.

I’m not naive to it.It could be it.”Rizzo has played 14 seasons in the majors, including the past three-plus with the Yankees following a 2021 trade deadline move from the Cubs.The four-time Gold Glove winner was limited to 99 and 92 games respectively over the past two seasons due to injuries, however, and the Yankees declined his $17 million option for 2025.They signed former MVP-winning first baseman Paul Goldschmidt in December to a one-year contract worth $12.5 million.“Two years ago, I had kind of a weird year with the concussion.

Then last year, I was hurt twice,” said Rizzo, who missed games in 2024 due to forearm and hand injuries.“My power numbers dropped.

I’m surprised, but not like crazy-surprised just because I’m a realist in the game and you’re getting older.“The fact that teams want you to play for basically league minimum ($760,000), I’m like, you guys are crazy.You’re almost trying to ruin the market for the next guy.”Rizzo posted a career-worst .637 OPS with just eight home runs in 92 games last season, but he returned from the late-September hand injury after sitting out the AL Division ...