While a guest on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge suggested that Yankee fans can thank Anthony Rizzo for being a key factor in his decision to re-sign with the team. Not only that, but it helped the two players have dogs that are close friends.

During an interview with Fallon, Judge said that Rizzo called every day, sent multiple texts and “worked hard” after Rizzo got his contract with the Yankees done and then wanted to make sure his buddy Judge stayed with the organization too. Despite rumors that he might join the San Francisco Giants, Judge did sign, a whopping nine-year, $360 million contract with New York.

No one is suggesting that Judge would have stayed and Rizzo’s full-court press would have worked if the Yankees hadn’t offered the $360 million it took to keep him, but it didn’t hurt that the two were close friends and that Rizzo played the ace up his sleeve, which was that their dogs Penny and Kevin are the best of friends.

Judge made his MLB debut in 2016 and has been selected as an All-Star multiple times. He was also the American League Rookie of the Year in 2017, when he set a rookie record for home runs. He also hit 62 home runs with 131 RBIs in 2022.