This MLB season is kinda having it all. From wild fan fights in the stands to full-blown bench-clearing brawls on the field. So, if baseball is theater, 2025 has been a Broadway blockbuster. And amidst this chaotic script, one thing was missing: A major retirement announcement. But now, it seems like even that box might soon be checked. Yes, one name keeps surfacing, a former World Series hero who once stood at the heart of a historic Cubs championship run.

Now, that same player seems to be merely a shadow of his prime. Yes, you guessed it. We’re talking about Anthony Rizzo.

Rizzo is just out there, hanging in the uncertainty of free agency. The Cubs legend, who most recently held down first base for the Yankees, remains unsigned as the 2025 MLB season marches on. No spring training invites. No late roster additions. Just silence. So, is this it? Has Anthony Rizzo played his final big league game without even announcing it?

Well, you might argue that Retirement isn’t official yet. But it’s certainly looming in the mirror. “To Anthony Rizzo and his family, if he is retiring, this one’s going out, let’s hear it,” NHL legend and Chicago native, Chris Chelios, asked for Rizzzo chants in the Wrigley Field during the game against the White Sox!

The heartfelt tribute came in the 7th inning during the Cubs’ game against the White Sox, prompting the stands to start chanting Rizzo out of nowhere. Well, that’s something of a surreal moment in the field, and Rizzo would surely feel proud seeing that. But someone like Chelios announcing this one on a public system holds a different value.

So, while the media is now buzzing with Rizzo’s retirement rumors, you might wonder what went wrong for the 35-year-old.

Well, Rizzo’s 2024 season was a quiet echo of his prime years. Once the heart of a lineup and a Gold Glove fixture at first base, Rizzo found himself battling both time and health. Last year, he settled into a diminished role, batting just .228 with 8 HRs across 92 games. But that doesn’t mean Rizzo is no more in shape to contribute even as an injury replacement.

But considering how the Cubs are going currently, the chance of him getting into the team is slim.

The Cubs are turning heads this time

If you think you saw the best offense this year with the Dodgers or the Yankees, then let us give you a reality check.

Through the first month of the 2025 season, no offense in baseball is swinging it like the Cubs!

In 26 games, they’ve surged to the top of nearly every key offensive category. Yes, the Cubs are leading the majors in batting average (.265), OBP (.346), OPS (.806), hits (243), and runs scored (163). So, this indicates that they’re not just hitting, but putting relentless pressure on opposing defenses. In addition, the Cubs got 40 stolen bases in their name, and that’s the most in the league

Do you still see a place for Rizzo in the team?

See, apart from what the stats and figures are showing, the Cubs’ clutch moment heroics are on a different level this year. For instance, last week, against the Diamondbacks, the Cubs took the game home by 13-11. It was followed by an 11-10 win over the Dodgers! If you check both games, you would agree that the Cubs embraced chaos by going against the odds.

Hence, this is a lineup that doesn’t blink. Whether it’s the top of the order setting the tone or the bottom bringing the noise, the Cubs are showing the kind of resilience that fuels October dreams. And unfortunately, that might just reflect a dead end for Rizzo in this lineup.