Anthony Rizzo’s Bold MVP Comments Could Ruffle Feathers

Anthony Rizzo didn’t hedge his bet.

On Johnny Manziel’s “Glory Daze” podcast, the former Yankees first baseman made it clear who he thinks will win the American League MVP.

“I know Cal Raleigh is having an amazing year in Seattle,” Rizzo said Thursday. “He’s a great player, especially as a switch-hitting catcher. But I think, in the end, Judge is going to win another MVP. To do what he does in New York, year in and year out, he’s carried that team for years.”

It’s not just a casual endorsement.

 Rizzo arrived in the Bronx at the 2021 trade deadline and he and Judge have been close on and off the field ever since. They’ve shared road-trip dinners, leaned on each other in the clubhouse, and been each other’s fiercest defenders under the New York spotlight. When Judge was named captain in 2023, Rizzo was among the first to publicly praise him for how he leads.

“He knows how good he is but he doesn’t portray it,” Rizzo said on the podcast. “He’s not cocky, he’s not arrogant… He’s just always preparing.”

Rizzo’s words carry the weight of experience. The three-time All-Star and 2016 World Series champion with the Cubs has played alongside some of the game’s best. To him, Judge’s combination of production and quiet leadership is unmatched.

The Yankees declined Rizzo’s $17 million option after last season, making him a free agent. He’s yet to sign with another team after hitting .228 with eight homers in an injury-shortened 2024. But his bond with Judge, and their shared status as mini-dachshund dads, remains strong.

If Judge, who is coming back from a stint on the injured list because of a right elbow flexor strain, returns to form and delivers another late-season surge, Rizzo’s MVP call may look prophetic, not partial.