MAJOR-UPDATE: Yankees $17 Million Free Agent 4-Time All-Star Urged to Return as ‘Player-Coach’—Could This Be His Last MLB Ride?

Anthony Rizzo was picked by the Boston Red Sox in the sixth round of the 2007 MLB draft out of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. This same high school produced current Red Sox top prospect and baseball’s No. 1 overall prospect, Roman Anthony, who was drafted by Boston in the second round of the 2022 draft.

While Anthony’s MLB career has yet to begin, Rizzo’s is seemingly nearing its end. After the New York Yankees informed Rizzo, just two days after losing the 2024 World Series to the Los Angeles Dodgers, that they would not pick up his $17 million option for 2025, the 14-year veteran and four-time All-Star became a free agent. Nearly four months later, he remains without a team.

Rizzo, now 35, has acknowledged the possibility of retirement, mentioning in a recent interview that he has “definitely thought about it,” adding, “I’m not naive to it. It could be it.” However, he’s not quite ready to walk away, saying, “I think I have a lot to give to the game still. I want to play. I want to win. And I love talking the game with pitchers, with hitters. There’s so much to dive into. Everything that goes into it, on the field, off the field, I’ll still be talking about it with guys.”

A popular Yankees fan blog, “Bleeding Yankee Blue,” has proposed a possible solution for Rizzo’s future—a return to the Yankees in a dual “player-coach” role. Robert Casey, the blog’s head writer, suggested that this could be the start of something special, with Rizzo taking on leadership duties that manager Aaron Boone, in Casey’s view, fails to fully embrace.

He envisions Rizzo, whether hitting home runs or offering motivational talks, playing an important role for the Yankees. Casey believes this “Player-Coach Mentor” idea could be a perfect blend of boldness, sentimentality, and New York style.

If Rizzo does return, he would join a select group of Yankees with a World Series championship under their belt. He was a key contributor for the Chicago Cubs in the 2016 World Series, hitting a home run and driving in five runs during their historic victory. Currently, the only other Yankee with a World Series title is newly signed pitcher Max Fried, who won the 2021 World Series with the Atlanta Braves.