THE New York Yankees have released first baseman Anthony Rizzo.
Rizzo was part of a disastrous play in Game 5 of the World Series that ultimately gave the Los Angeles Dodgers the win.
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Rizzo played four seasons with the Yankees after being traded to them by the Chicago Cubs.
It appeared that he wanted to remain with the Yankees, making a statement about the team after the loss in the World Series.
“I feel like I have a lot left to offer in this game in a lot of different ways,” he said
“I don’t want to take this off.”
Rizzo and pitcher Gerrit Cole combined on a crucial error in the World Series that helped the Dodgers overcome a 5-0 deficit late in the game.
After Rizzo fielded the ball, Cole didn’t cover first base and Rizzo didn’t run for the force out.
“Those balls off righties, those are the hardest balls for us,” he said
“I kind of was going for it, and then it kicked one way, so I had to really make sure to catch it first.”
Cole also shared an explanation about the error after the World Series loss.
“I just didn’t know how hard he hit it and by the time the ball got by me, I was not in a position to cover first,” Cole said.
“Neither of us were based on the spin of the baseball and [Rizzo] having to secure it.
“Just a bad read off the bat.”
After the error, both Cole and Rizzo are free agents.
Cole exercised his player option to get out of his contract with the Yankees, but the team can negate it.
New York can add an extra year on Cole’s contract at $36 million to cancel his opt-out.
MLB All-Star starters 2024
American League
C: Adley Rutschman (Baltimore Orioles)
1B: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (Toronto Blue Jays)
2B: Marcus Semien (Texas Rangers)
3B: José Ramírez (Cleveland Guardians)
SS: Gunnar Henderson (Baltimore Orioles)
OF: Aaron Judge (New York Yankees)
OF: Steven Kwan (Cleveland Guardians)
OF: Juan Soto (New York Yankees)
DH: Yordan Alvarez (Houston Astros)
National League
C: William Contreras (Milwaukee Brewers)
1B: Bryce Harper (Philadelphia Phillies)
2B: Ketel Marte (Arizona Diamondbacks)
3B: Alec Bohm (Philadelphia Phillies)
SS: Trea Turner (Philadelphia Phillies)
OF: Jurickson Profar (San Diego Padres)
OF: Teoscar Hernández (Los Angeles Dodgers)
OF: Christian Yelich (Milwaukee Brewers)
DH: Shohei Ohtani (Los Angeles Dodgers)
The team has until Sunday night to make this decision, or else Cole will become an official free agent.
Another massive free agent for the Yankees is Juan Soto, who is now on the open market.
Soto is expected to get a contract in excess of $600 million this offseason.
The Yankees are one of the favorites to retain him, but some other heavyweights are in the fight.
Los Angeles and the New York Mets are also expected to make pushes for Soto.
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