Yankees: Did Anthony Rizzo shout out Joc Pederson with dog pic?

Extremely proud to be able to deliver New York Yankees fans the most adorable headline of the offseason in the first few weeks of the offseason.

It simply feels good to provide things like this while we’re all down in the dumps questioning whether Corey Seager can, indeed, be the shortstop of the future if he isn’t a shortstop at all.

Though the Yanks haven’t been in the postseason picture for nearly two weeks now (dammit), some of their equipment remains alive and well in the field — well, as “alive” as inanimate objects can be.

As Joc Pederson’s Atlanta Braves continue to prance through the National League, with a 2-0 lead on the

Los Angeles Dodgers

, you might’ve noticed a familiar name carved into the wood he’s been using.

Though a bit overshadowed by the pearl necklace he’s been rocking and the powerful post-dinger shouts that he’s a “bad m***erf***er,” Pederson’s still blatantly using Anthony Rizzo’s bats, which he surely snagged while both men were Cubs teammates for the first half of 2021.

Probably just a good fit, we guess. And now Pederson’s got mojo, socking yet another game-tying shot midway through Game 2. Can’t change anything now!

Yankees free agent Anthony Rizzo paid tribute to Joc Pederson? We think?

That’s the hard data. Pederson’s bats are Rizzo’s bats. Every time Joctober extends the calendar by socking another dinger, he’s using Rizzo’s lumber to do so. Now comes the speculation.

Within the hour after Pederson’s equalizer on Sunday night, which was drilled right around 9:00 PM EST on the dot, Rizzo tweeted the following photo of his adorable dog, Kevin Rizzo.

Now, something you should know: the first baseman has been relatively precious, in recent years, in posting photos of Kevin. His fans beg and plead — oh, do they — but despite those cries, you’ll only get an occasional Kevin shot.

Therefore, this gift following Joc’s homer definitely seems like an intentional and well-timed shoutout. After all, how else can you explain the necklace?

Again, Pederson has owned the October narrative by being unabashedly himself — well, except when he’s busy impersonating Anthony Rizzo. His pearl necklace — which he very much rocks — has been his most profound statement of the postseason thus far.

Could this photo of Kevin Rizzo wearing an ostentatious necklace of his own, within the hour of Joc’s homer, really have just been coincidental? We think not.

Want to really be sick to your stomach? The Yankees could’ve used a versatile lefty power-hitting outfielder all year long. Pederson would’ve been an excellent fit next to Rizzo on our roster. This bromance could’ve continued in the Bronx instead of being relegated to playoff dog pics.

Jussssst great.

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