New York Yankees v Texas Rangers / Sam Hodde/GettyImages

For the first time since being dealt to the Yankees midway through a 2021 course-reversal, Anthony Rizzo returned to Chicago over the weekend.

At the time of his departure, the Yankees were looking for lineup balance, and the Cubs were seeking to rip the bandaid off and put an end to their previous era, complete with the one World Series every Chicagoan had spent their collective lives dreaming of. Somehow, that singular, impossible World Series still didn’t feel like enough.

Since that date, the Cubs have reestablished themselves as a viable playoff contender under Jed Hoyer and Craig Counsell, while the Yankees have benefitted from Rizzo’s mid-to-late-career presence (though he isn’t the centerpiece he once was). With Michael Busch entrenched at first base in Chicago, there’s a backup role available for the soon-to-be free agent Rizzo … but that doesn’t appear to be where his head’s at these days.

When asked about what the Chicago return meant to him, Rizzo threw some cold water on his once-thought-to-be-inevitable departure from the Yankees.

Anthony Rizzo wants to retire with Yankees (and Aaron Judge probably wants that, too)

Yup. Either Rizzo is retiring following the conclusion of the 2024 season, or he’ll be back with the Yankees next year.

Before anybody panics, this should be a relatively easy solution. If Rizzo wants to retire a Yankee — and if Judge wants him to return, which seems likely — both men will operate with the knowledge that Juan Soto takes precedent. The pair will likely enter Brian Cashman’s office whenever the season ends and acknowledge the voiding of Rizzo’s $17 million option, which comes with a $6 million buyout attached. They will then find a contract figure that falls somewhere in between, facilitating his valued return in a way that doesn’t interfere with the larger-scale operation. Unfortunately, the timing of such conversations will mean that any Rizzo deal is completed before Soto’s decision. It’s on the Yankees to ensure that it doesn’t serve as a roadblock.

Rizzo, who’s been a steady hand for the Yankees ever since arriving in 2021, might be ready soon to transition into a bench role, but he’s got a stretch run to prove he’s still the team’s optimal starter (on the currently constructed roster). Bringing back an integral clubhouse piece at a discounted rate next season sounds fair.

Then again, the Yankees can be cutthroat, if they’d like to be. They can say, “No thanks.” The buyout does give Rizzo leverage to implore the team to consider adding just a few extra million to their additional expenditures to keep him around, though, as long as they’re already planning on tossing $6 million into the void anyway.

Of course … Ben Rice is still cheaper than a few extra million.

It’s up to the Yankees, in the end, but based on Alex Verdugo’s remarkable stickiness, something tells us Judge will wield enough power to facilitate a deal here, and will also keep Soto’s cost in mind (he clearly wants his outfield running mate back, too). If the Yankees use Rizzo’s cost as an excuse not to retain Soto? Then they’ll be making a powerful enemy of the Captain, too. It’s time for Judge and Rizzo to be a force for good here, even if it blocks Rice for the time being in the Bronx.