3 Yankees First Basemen Should Be Added Instead of Returning Anthony Rizzo

When the New York Yankees lost to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the World Series, it became obvious that updates were needed. While I don’t believe Anthony Rizzo was solely to blame for the error in the fifth inning of Game 5 that led to the Dodgers’ rally, the fact remains that Rizzo was not as productive as the team had hoped.

It is impossible to completely rule out that Rizzo will not return to the Yankees, but the team is not destined for success at the moment. Rizzo is a durable player and person on and off the field, but the writing is on the wall here. However, here are three players who could replace Rizzo and bring more stability to the Yankees lineup.

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Ty France is the first replacement available and will be the cheapest of the three options. His ranking is low after a disappointing 2024 season, and he has a decent enough track record for a team to want to give it a try here. For his career, he has a .263/.337/.407 slash with a 113 wRC+, with a neutral split against lefties and righties.

France, five years younger than Rizzo, still has plenty of players left in the tank and will have a better defense on the Yankees’ roster than Cincinnati, who were in the bottom half in runs allowed per game in 2024. Since 2020, France has reduced the figure by 0.266/. 340/.408 compared to Rizzo’s .235/.331/.416. He likely won’t have much higher hitting, but the ability to hit for a higher batting average in today’s game would at least be worth the price the Yankees could get him for if they need a backup option.

The Yankees are a sneaky candidate if they make an upgrade at first base. After the Cubs learned that Cody Bellinger had agreed to his 2025 deal, it effectively ended their chances of running for Pete Alonso, eliminating any blockbuster trade contingency that would open up a spot on their roster. That leaves the Yankees in a competitive bidding war with their cross-town rivals, especially if they pass up the opportunity to re-sign Juan Soto.

Alonso’s track record speaks for itself. He’s been one of the best hitters in baseball over the last six years, and even if the Yankees make Soto a free agent, they shouldn’t rest on their laurels. The Dodgers are ready for the long haul, and teams will have to start building their own super teams if they want to compete with Los Angeles. favorite to leave the American League next season.

Whether the Arizona Diamondbacks decide to offer Christian Walker what he deserves in free agency remains to be seen. One team that has the money to pry him out of the desert is New York, which is not only guaranteed to have a better performance on the field, but also on defense.

Walker was injured in 2024 but still hit .251/.335/.468 with 26 home runs and 84 RBIs in 130 games. Two years ago, he hit more than 30 homers in a row, and without injury, he’ll likely surpass that mark for a third straight season in 2024. Not to mention, he’s a two-time Gold Glove Award winner and a finalist this winter for the third year in a row. He’s 33 years old, but he doesn’t seem to be slowing down much. Arizona would have to open a checkbook here so he couldn’t leave.