In one of the least surprising moves of the early MLB offseason, the Chicago Cubs have picked up first baseman Anthony Rizzo's $16.5 million option for the 2020 season:
Cubs news: In the least surprising move of the off-season, a league source indicates the Cubs have picked up Anthony Rizzo's option for 2020 at $16.5 million. Team should announce it later today.
— Jesse Rogers (@JesseRogersESPN) November 3, 2019
The club had previously announced that they had picked up left-hander Jose Quintana's option, while declining the option on reliever Derek Holland.
Rizzo had another tremendously productive season for the Cubs in 2019. The 30-year-old slashed .293/.405/.520 with 27 homers and 94 RBI, and he provided late-season inspiration when he returned from a grisly ankle injury to help Chicago make one last playoff push.
The Cubs acquired Rizzo from the San Diego Padres in January 2012, and he has arguably been the best Cubs player of this decade.
Since 2012, Rizzo ranks fourth among all first baseman (though he should be fifth, as Matt Carpenter benefits from being a platoon defender) in terms of fWAR. In that same span, he has 217 homers and an .872 OPS.
Rizzo made three consecutive National League All-Star teams between 2014 and 2016, and he has won multiple Gold Gloves as one of the best defensive first basemen in the game.
Chicago has plenty of difficult decisions to make this winter. From possibly re-signing Nicholas Castellanos and trading Jose Quintana to making a run at a premium starting pitcher, Cubs president Theo Epstein will have to navigate a massive payroll and a weak farm system. However, Rizzo is a sure thing.
This also officially reunites Rizzo with new Cubs manager David Ross, someone Rizzo has publicly stated is a mentor and a friend after the two played together in 2015 and 2016.
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