MLB Rumors: Anthony Rizzo Could Return To Cubs After Yankees Stint

KEY POINTS

The Cubs' rumored reunion with Anthony Rizzo is misaligned with their rebuilding plans
Rizzo may opt to join a club that can give him another World Series title
The Cubs could be better off taking in younger players

Anthony Rizzo is officially a free agent, and his next destination remains a mystery for now.

The 32-year-old first baseman is coming off a stint with the New York Yankees.

He was traded by the Cubs to the Yankees along with cash considerations for Alex Vizcaino and Kevin Alcantara in July 2021, MLB.com reported.

With nothing definite, an MLB insider Bruce Levin suggested that there is a chance that Rizzo could agree to a short-term deal and return to Chicago when he spoke on the “Inside the Clubhouse” podcast.

“I’ve heard that it’s not out of the realm of giving a two or three-year contract. What if you heard, once the lockout ends, that the Cubs signed Rizzo to a two-year, $40 million contract with a third-year option,” Levine stated.

It would be a popular move for the Cubs since it would mean that Chicago would end up picking two Yankee farmhands for practically nothing.

But all that will depend if the three-time All-Star is open to the idea of returning to the team where he played from 2012 to 2021.

There are a lot of things to consider–one of which is the fact that the Cubs are rebuilding at this point.

Given his age, Rizzo may be more inclined to consider signing with a team that has a better shot of becoming World Series champions.

His fit on a team that will most likely take in younger players raises questions unless he is open to mentoring the upstarts for the rest of the way.

Rizzo knows the feeling of becoming a World Series champion, something he experienced in 2016.

He may want another or several more. However, that may have to wait and considering that time is not on his side.

The four-time Gold Glove Award winner spent 10 seasons with the Cubs. Looking at his numbers, Rizzo slashed .272/.372/.489 across 1,308 games for the franchise, hitting 242 home runs and recording 784 RBI.

It may take a two-year, $20 million deal to sign Rizzo, a lucrative package that the Cubs could invest in other players.

For now, this should be taken with a grain of salt. Any movement may only commence once the MLB lockout ends.