Could the White Sox explore the open market to find a temporary solution at first base?
The question comes to mind after Saturday’s news, where the Yankees declined Anthony Rizzo’s club option for the 2025 season. New York decided to pay the $6 million buyout rather than the $17 million salary Rizzo would’ve received otherwise, thus making him a free agent.
Rizzo, who was acquired from the Cubs in July 2021, played in three-plus seasons for the Bronx Bombers. His best campaign came in 2022 when the lefty hit .224/.338/.480 with 32 homers, 131 wRC+, and 3.0 fWAR over 548 plate appearances. Since the start of 2023, however, two separate collisions at first base and a pair of broken fingers suffered after getting hit by a pitch this September severely impacted his health and overall production. In the regular season dating back to last season, Rizzo has slashed only .237/.315/.358 with a 91 wRC+ and 0.6 fWAR over 191 games.
This postseason, the three-time All-Star returned to the lineup after missing the ALDS against the Royals. He went on to hit .267/.421/.300 over 38 plate appearances in 10 games between the ALCS and World Series. Though respectable, New York already had its mind made up on Rizzo’s future heading into this offseason.
Shifting to the White Sox’s situation, first baseman Andrew Vaughn is at the center of a big decision that Chris Getz and Co. will have to make. The 26-year-old is projected to earn $6.4 million in arbitration, though his low defensive value and overall lack of production raise questions over whether he deserves that amount.
In 2024, Vaughn hit just .246/.297/.402 with a .699 OPS in 619 plate appearances, yielding a 97 wRC+ and -0.1 fWAR. It was yet another step back from his best season in 2022 and brought his career mark down to .253/.310/.415, which hasn’t come close to meeting the high expectations placed on him when drafted third overall in 2019. The main issue with non-tendering Vaughn is then finding someone to replace him.
In-house, Tim Elko exists as a potential option at some point, but he isn’t quite knocking on the door just yet. Gavin Sheets could also be an answer and provide the lineup with a lefty power bat, though that would require an estimated $2.6 million in arbitration which is questionable after his underwhelming 2024 season. It’s a possibility that Miguel Vargas or Bryan Ramos could shift over from the hot corner and get some reps, though a free-agent acquisition could alleviate some of the stress.
The White Sox surely won’t spend enough to land a substantial upgrade, so expectations need to be tempered by fans. They could still sign comparable production for less than Vaughn’s estimated value, making it an option until the team figures out its long-term plan. This is where Rizzo could enter the picture along with several other players who might have a bit more left in the tank.
It’s tough to determine the veteran’s market since possible suitors will have concerns over his health and future production. Rizzo likely signs for a lower guaranteed salary since his best years are behind him, potentially bringing the White Sox into the mix as it’s hard to imagine any contender willing to take a chance. The 35-year-old seems to fit best in a platoon role at this stage of his career, especially if the Sox want to give some of their younger players like Elko or Vargas reps at the position.
Rizzo’s leadership is likely the biggest appeal in all of this and cannot be overstated as we’ve all seen the impact he’s had in the past. He would be an ideal voice for new manager Will Venable, who served in various roles with the Cubs from 2017-20 and was close with Rizzo during their playing career in San Diego. The two even reflected on their relationship in a 2018 article by MLB.com’s Carrie Muskat.
“It was just different,” Rizzo said about getting traded from the Red Sox to the Padres in December 2010. “It was a new organization, and when you go to a new organization, it’s hard. Will [Venable] was one of the guys who was there and a nice guy who understood me. I always liked him for that.”
“I got a chance to see a young Rizzo come up and make his debut,” Venable said while serving as the Cubs first-base and outfield coach. “It’s great for me now being in this role to have a relationship with him in the past.”
“He’s a really good kid and super talented, and the game, I don’t want to say was easy for him, but you knew he had the ability to succeed at the big league level,” Venable continued. “Certainly I’m not a scout by any means, but you knew he’d be special. I just didn’t know he’d be this special, to be honest.”
It’s not a flashy name that necessarily solves the production problem, but it would be beneficial with a culture change being of the utmost importance. Having veteran leadership that respected him was something Pedro Grifol lacked in his tenure as White Sox manager. If the team decides the move on from Vaughn, the front office could avoid their previous mistake by giving Venable some older guys to help guide a rebuilding squad with no aspirations or expectations in 2025. Though other free agent options would offer more bang for the buck, Rizzo’s connection to Venable could make him a name to watch.
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Featured Photo: © Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
