As the free agency period began, both Yankees superstars, Aaron Judge and Anthony Rizzo, found themselves on the market. Rizzo made his decision first, signing with the New York Yankees, and immediately set his sights on convincing his former teammate, Judge, to join him.

But Rizzo didn’t just rely on words to sway Judge – he knew the key to winning his heart was through a different kind of leverage. Rizzo used his beloved pet dog as a bargaining chip. In the end, it was Rizzo’s clever use of his pet and Judge’s love for his dog that sealed the deal and brought Judge back to the Yankees.

How did Rizzo use their dogs to get Judge to sign back with the Yankees? 

In a recent interview with Jimmy Fallon, Aaron Judge opened up about his decision to re-sign with the Yankees. While his friend and teammate Anthony Rizzo played a big role in his decision, it was a four-legged friend that ultimately sealed the deal. Rizzo knew the key to Judge’s heart was through his dog, Penny, who had formed a close bond with Rizzo’s own dog, Kevin.

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In an effort to convince Judge to rejoin the Yankees, Rizzo sent daily photos of their dogs playing together, reminding Judge that if he signed with another team, the two furry friends would be separated. 

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Judge revealed to Fallon that Rizzo, “went for my heart” with his tactic and it worked, as Judge not only re-signed with the Yankees but also became the 16th captain of the Yankees.

Aaron Judge’s free agency:

According to SI.com, as Aaron Judge navigated the free agency period, he met with many teams, each offering their own compelling reasons for him to join their squad. But when it came down to making a decision, Judge knew deep in his heart that there was only one team for him, the New York Yankees. As he narrated to Fallon, when he and his wife sat down and discussed the options, each time they came to the same conclusion: “We’re Yankees” 

True to his nature as a true embodiment of the Yankee spirit, Judge not only signed a massive 9-year $360 contract, but he also became the 16th captain of the team. It’s hard to imagine Judge in any other uniform but the pinstripes. The Yankees nation couldn’t be happier that he chose to stay with the team, all thanks to little Kevin!

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