Insider: Re-signing Anthony Rizzo improves Yankees' chances of keeping Aaron Judge

There's another indication that re-signing slugger Anthony Rizzo improves the New York Yankees' chances of keeping Aaron Judge. 

"My gut says the Yankees are in a better position with Judge than, say, a week ago," Bob Klapisch of NJ Advance Media explained in a piece published Wednesday. "Locking up Rizzo is a big part of that." 

It was learned on Tuesday that the Yankees re-signed Rizzo on a two-year contract that includes a club option for 2025. In total, Rizzo's deal could be worth up to $51 million. 

"He and Judge are close friends, not to mention clubhouse leaders," Klapisch said of Rizzo. "If Judge is to (manager) Aaron Boone what Derek Jeter was to Joe Torre, then consider Rizzo as second in command. You could even say he’s become the co-captain. That’s why the new contract matters. Rizzo’s decision to stay put could factor into Judge’s decision about 2023. No. 99 is an extremely loyal guy. Relationships matter. If and when Judge chooses to finish his career in the Bronx, just wait, he’ll say the chance to run the table with his buddy Rizzo was one of the influencers." 

Rizzo was previously linked in rumors with the San Francisco Giants, in part because it was thought the Giants allegedly hoped signing the 33-year-old could potentially boost their odds of acquiring Judge. Judge, a native of Linden, California, rejected a seven-year, $213.5 million contract extension offer from the Yankees before Opening Day and is now a free agent. 

Also on Tuesday, Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner insisted that the club has more than enough available cash to re-sign both Rizzo and Judge and also bolster the roster this offseason. 

"We have plenty of ability — and Aaron (Judge) and I talked about this — to make other things happen, too," Steinbrenner said at that time. 

"It would be a mistake for Steinbrenner to set Judge free to test the market on his own," Klapisch added. "The Yankees should instead leverage the momentum of Rizzo’s signing - even let the first baseman help recruit Judge, either directly or indirectly. Fire all the bullets." 

Steinbrenner and company may be doing just that ahead of Thanksgiving Day.