RIZZO & VERDUGO GET BIG TIME SUPPORT!

Big-time athletes, the ones with real stature in the league, need to speak up. No, it’s not going to suddenly flip the market upside down, but what it will do is make big-time team owners take a step back and think, "You know what? Rizzo still has value... Verdugo can still contribute." And that’s exactly the kind of reevaluation that needs to happen.

We saw a step in the right direction when Aaron Judge spoke out about Alex Verdugo. Brendan Kuty spoke with some current Yankees about why Verdugo is still on the market, and their responses were pretty telling.

“I’m surprised,” Judge said when asked about Verdugo’s situation, per Kuty. “He’s such a great player. He brings so much value and versatility to a team.”

That was a big deal. Judge isn’t just any player—he’s the Yankees’ captain, the face of the franchise, and when he speaks, people listen. But now, former World Series champ Eric Hosmer is joining the conversation, and unlike Judge, he isn’t just surprised—he’s downright fuming.

“How are we living in a world where the everyday LF and 1B for the New York Yankees' World Series team don’t have jobs after the first MLB game of the season?” Hosmer wrote on Twitter.“Not even an offer for one of them!”

Hosmer is frustrated, and honestly, he’s got a point. Experience is supposed to mean something. Verdugo and Rizzo weren’t just guys who happened to be on a roster—they were everyday starters for a team that went deep into October. And now? Crickets.

“So then how were they everyday guys for the NEW YORK YANKEES all the way up until the World Series and then all of a sudden no opportunities to go out and get a job?”

That’s the million-dollar question, isn’t it? Verdugo made $8.7 million last season, while Rizzo was finishing off a two-year, $40 million deal with the Yankees. The team declined his $17 million option for 2025, choosing instead to pay him a $6 million buyout. And now, neither of them has a deal?

Maybe they’ll land somewhere soon. Maybe they won’t. But right now, there’s more discussion about them on social media than in MLB front offices, and that’s a problem. These guys aren’t washed; they can still contribute in different ways. Verdugo is a defensive dog, and his bat will find its way back. Rizzo? He can still launch some bombs at DH and be a steady first base option to give a starter a break. Plus, let’s not forget the leadership factor—Rizzo isn’t just a player, he’s a mentor, a veteran presence, the kind of guy who holds a clubhouse together when the season gets long and grueling.

Hosmer stepping up to support them is just as important as Judge speaking out. Why? Because Hosmer has a different kind of audience. He’s got his podcast, his social media presence, and when he speaks, people who might not normally pay attention suddenly tune in. If enough respected voices keep this conversation going, maybe—just maybe—teams will start paying attention.

Here’s my take: Rizzo and Verdugo can still play, plain and simple. And you know what? The Yankees’ reputation as a place where careers go to die is not doing them any favors. If that’s the message the Yankees are sending, it’s only going to make it harder to sign top talent in the future. Players talk. If guys think New York is where you go to have your career forgotten, that’s a serious problem for a team that prides itself on being a destination franchise.

So, credit where it’s due...  tip of the cap to Eric Hosmer. Always a stand-up guy, always willing to say what needs to be said, and clearly, not afraid to ruffle some feathers. Now let’s see if anyone in an MLB front office is actually paying attention.