Anthony Rizzo Just Reignited The Most Heated Aaron Judge Mvp Debate

Bonisiwe Shabane

-Nov 18, 2025, 2:49 PM

anthony rizzo just reignited the most heated aaron judge mvp debate

The 2025 season has been historic for Aaron Judge. The star has stood as the symbol of power and consistency in the AL with an impressive campaign. He has guided the league in multiple areas with his elite numbers. For instance, he has led the league with a .331 batting average, with a .458 on-base percentage, with a .691 slugging, with a 1.149 OPS and 136 scored runs. Not only this, but Judge also has recorded 53 home runs, and because of this, Judge has joined Jimmie Foxx and Mickey Mantle as only the third player in MLB history to hit at... This resume definitely screams MVP.

However, perhaps no one has raised their voice for Judge more than Anthony Rizzo. The veteran first baseman has gone to bat for his teammate and praises Judge’s number and leadership on the team. “He’s the heartbeat of this team,” Rizzo has said on multiple occasions, and in Rizzo’s eyes, there is no MVP race at all. Yet, as USA TODAY’s Bob Nightengale said, Judge “shouldn’t be the 2025 MVP.” In a season full of statistical fireworks, one star has defied convention and attracted the attention of analysts, and turning the... He has delivered a season so extraordinary that it is forcing fans to rethink what “value” truly means. Despite Aaron Judge’s power, the Mariners catcher’s case could just be powerful.

Cal Raleigh’s stats are also staggering. The star has hit 60 home runs, which has made him the first catcher ever to reach such a mark while shattering the single-season record for homers by a catcher. He has crossed the record of Mickey Mantle for the most home runs as a switch-hitter and entered the league with Babe Ruth in the 60-HR club. Dan Wilson has praised him: “For him to do what he’s done offensively and to do what he does behind the plate, I honestly don’t think we’ve seen this before.” And it is not just the numbers sheet that makes Raleigh’s case bulletproof. His Gold Glove defense, the ability of Seattle’s pitching staff, and leadership in navigating the Mariners to their first AL West title in 24 years have lifted him to a very different level.

As Nightangle pointed out, if Raleigh were a Yankee and Judge were a Mariner, the conversation likely would not even exist. Raleigh has changed Seattle into a valid World Series participant, performing under the radar while most of the country sleeps. Simply put, in 2025, no one has been more valuable than the “Sultan of Squat.” Aaron Judge’s 2024 season was a tale of two halves—an extraordinary regular season followed by a World Series struggle While his mistakes and cold bat played a role in the Yankees’ downfall, his track record suggests that he will bounce back. Fans may be frustrated now, but baseball is a game of redemption.

Many greats have endured postseason failures before finally capturing glory. Judge still has time to rewrite his legacy and lead the Yankees back to the promised land. As Anthony Rizzo pointed out, even the best players face adversity. It’s how they respond that defines them. Yankees fans will be hoping that in 2025, Judge silences the critics and brings championship No. 28 to the Bronx.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – OCTOBER 22: Aaron Judge #99 and Anthony Rizzo #48 of the New York Yankees react after the first out was recorded against the Houston Astros during the second inning... (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) NEW YORK, NEW YORK – OCTOBER 22: Aaron Judge #99 and Anthony Rizzo #48 of the New York Yankees react after the first out was recorded against the Houston Astros during the second inning... (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) Having shared the same locker room for over four years, Aaron Judge and Anthony Rizzo were not just teammates, but their friendship is beyond the ballparks. Remember the 2022-23 offseason, when Rizzo emotionally blackmailed his good friend to sign the contract extension?

“I did send him a couple of pictures of our dogs together, because we both have dachshunds, saying, ‘we can’t break them up,'” Rizzo revealed in an interview at the time. Even the Yankees captain has also expressed his respect for his former teammate time and again. During their time together in the Bronx, the two would often show up together at a Nicks or any NY Rangers game. Their thick bond was clearly visible during the four years they shared in the Yankees locker room. However, most recently, when asked to name his best teammates, the Yankees Captain’s surprising snub left everyone talking. During the All-Star week, media personality Joseph Solano asked the Yankees slugger to name his favorite teammates.

Taking a pause, Judge gave the question genuine thought and said, “Top three? Yeah, I’m gonna start with Brett Gardner. Played next to him for quite a long time. Number two, I’ll go CC Sabathia. Yeah. He was quite a leader, just an anchor for everybody in that whole clubhouse.

And three… I miss my guy T-Wade, Tyler Wade… He always had a smile on his face… The guy always brought energy, brought excitement. He just loved being a Yankee” Man, it feels good to have the Cubs back in the playoffs. It’s been five years that have felt like ten since the Cubs were in the postseason. The team in 2020 looked vastly different than it does now. The 2025 season has been historic for Aaron Judge.

The star has stood as the symbol of power and consistency in the AL with an impressive campaign. He has guided the league in multiple areas with his elite numbers. Anthony Rizzo is retired, but he hasn’t stopped swinging hard for his friends and teammates. On Saturday, the former Yankees first baseman posted to Instagram: “@thejudge44 is the MVP! How many of the National League MVPs in the Integration Era (since 1947) can you name in six minutes? No matter how the season ends, the Chicago Cubs have already accomplished something they have failed to achieve in recent years.

Anthony Rizzo Just Reignited The Most Heated Aaron Judge Mvp Debate

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