Anthony Rizzo could finish his career with the San Diego Padres — a franchise he saw a short stint with as a rookie in the MLB.
Padres paired with Anthony Rizzo in recent FA projection
Bleacher Report’s Joel Reuter linked Rizzo to the Padres as a team he could land on in free agency, saying this (h/t The Sporting News’ Aaliyan Mohammed):
“A reunion with Anthony Rizzo makes sense for both sides as the Padres look to add another bat on the left side of the infield and the 35-year-old tries to catch on with a contender,” wrote Reuter. “The Padres acquired Rizzo from the Red Sox prior to the 2011 season in the Adrian Gonzalez blockbuster, and he spent a year with the club before he was traded again to the Cubs.”
Padres: Rizzo was not the same player in 2024 for Yankees
Rizzo has tapered off in his last two seasons in the MLB. In 2024, the former three-time All-Star played in only 92 games — his second consecutive outing playing less than 100 games — and notched eight home runs, 35 RBIs, and 38 runs scored for the New York Yankees.
Rizzo was notably efficient in the American League Championship Series against the Cleveland Guardians though, where he raised his batting average from .228 in the regular season to .429 with a 1.000 OPS, but more needs to be seen from the 14-year veteran to deduce how much he has left in the tank. The same can be said for him on the defensive end, as New York actively looked for an upgrade at first base this offseason and got one in Paul Goldschmidt.
Padres: Rizzo can return to form if healthy in 2025
Nevertheless, the Padres could use another potentially impactful bat. If Rizzo can stay healthy next season, he has the capability to revert back to his play from 2022 which was not too long ago, where he smacked a career-high 32 home runs and drove in 75 RBIs. San Diego will likely be able to land the Florida native on a cost-effective short-term deal.