Yankees’ Anthony Rizzo gets advice from ex-Cubs teammate Jon Lester: ‘The grass ain’t always greener’

Will he stay or will he go?

That’s what the New York Yankees will have to decide about newly-acquired first baseman Anthony Rizzo.

The three-time All-Star will be a free agent after the season, which means he might be nothing more than a short-term rental for the Yankees, following their trade Thursday with the Chicago Cubs.

Introducing Yankees Insider: Get exclusive news, behind-the-scenes observations and the ability to text message directly with beat writers

The 31-year-old Rizzo spent the last decade playing for the Cubs, helping them win the World Series in 2016, and he’s made no attempt to hide his love for the Windy City.

So will Rizzo pull an Aroldis Chapman, and re-sign with his former team in the offseason, like the Yankees closer did in 2016 after his trade to the Cubs?

Video: Cubs Sell Off Core Players at Trade Deadline (Stadium)

Or will he pull a Jon Lester, and reject returning to his one-time home as a free agent, like the southpaw did after 2014 season, when he passed on an offer from the Boston Red Sox and joined Rizzo in Chicago?

Lester shared his two cents for his former teammate. Per WEEI:

“Everything happens for a reason. Maybe (Rizzo) sees the grass isn’t greener and he wants to come back. Maybe he sees something else and wants to play the free-agent (game). I’m excited for him. That weight on his shoulders has hopefully been lifted. He can just go play and not worry about anything.”

Rizzo has been a revelation for the Yankees, hitting home runs in each of his first two games in pinstripes and helping New York sweep a weekend series against the Miami Marlins in South Florida.

Rizzo will make make Bronx debut Monday when the Yankees host the Baltimore Orioles at Yankee Stadium.

Get Yankees text messages: Cut through the clutter of social media and text with beat writers and columnists. Plus, get breaking news, exclusive insight and analysis every day. Sign up now.

Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a subscription.

Mike Rosenstein may be reached at mrosenstein@njadvancemedia.com. Tell us your coronavirus story or send a tip here.