The New York Yankees have a lot of decisions to make this offseason as they attempt to build a team capable of advancing beyond the Wild Card Game. One of those decisions will involve figuring out who they want at first base heading forward.
The most practical answer would be Luke Voit, the incumbent who remains under team control through the 2024 season. Yet Voit is coming off an injury-ravaged season that limited him in both availability (he appeared in just 68 games) and performance (his 109 OPS+ was his worst since joining the Yankees). Voit's season was such that the Yankees had to seek external help at the trade deadline, shipping a pair of prospects to the Chicago Cubs in exchange for veteran Anthony Rizzo.
Rizzo is scheduled to hit free agency once the season concludes, but he has interest in returning to New York. Indeed, he's downright "eager" to come back if you listen to what one of his relatives told Bob Klapisch of the Newark Star-Ledger.
This shouldn't come as a particular surprise. Everyone's family members should have the good sense to inform prospective employers that their relative is serious about working for them, especially when the employer in question is one of the wealthiest and most prestigious in the industry.
Still, it suggests that Rizzo's free agency could be dictated by the Yankees. If they want him back, then his return would seem like a fait accompli. Otherwise, Rizzo will have to find it in his heart to join a third team in under a year's time.
The 32-year-old Rizzo, by the way, hit .249/.340/.428 (110 OPS+) in 49 games with the Yankees. His overall season line saw him bat .248/.344/.440 (111 OPS+) with 22 home runs and 1.7 Wins Above Replacement, per Baseball Reference's calculations.