An unknown number of teams have been in touch with the Yankees about Alex Verdugo‘s availability, according to reporter Francys Romero (X link). There doesn’t appear to be any sense that a trade is particularly close, though another source tells Romero that it isn’t out of the question that Verdugo could be moved. Verdugo would be a pure rental for any acquiring team, and he is owed roughly $2.9MM for the remainder of the season (from his $8.7MM salary).
New York just picked up Verdugo this past offseason, as a rare trade between the Yankees and Red Sox resulted in the outfielder coming to the Bronx for his final arbitration-eligible season. Verdugo got off to a nice start with his new team by hitting well over the first five weeks of play, but his production has since gone south, with a .222/.264/.346 slash line in his last 297 plate appearances. He is providing strong glovework as the regular left fielder, but Verdugo’s 90 wRC+ for the season has added to the Yankees’ overall difficulty in finding consistent offense beyond Aaron Judge and Juan Soto.
Giancarlo Stanton‘s return from the injured list fills one hole in the lineup, and with Stanton getting the bulk of DH duty, Judge will resume the everyday center field role. Trent Grisham and utilityman Oswaldo Cabrera could get some left field work in the event of a Verdugo trade, but the likelier scenario would be that the Yankees would again call up star prospect Jasson Dominguez, who was recently activated from the Triple-A injured list.
Dominguez didn’t make his 2024 debut until mid-May due to his recovery from Tommy John surgery, and he got only about a month’s worth of action before an oblique strain shelved him for roughly six weeks. With only 25 games under his belt this season, the Yankees might want to give him a bit more Triple-A time to make sure Dominguez is fully healthy and ramped up, though his big numbers at the plate indicate that he doesn’t have much less to prove against minor league pitching. Dominguez wowed baseball with a .980 OPS in his first 33 PAs as a big leaguer last season before the TJ surgery brought his debut year to an abrupt end.
Awful ball player
A mercurial, average player with the attitude, swag and sense of entitlement of a superstar. What team doesn’t want to sign up for that?
Stupid take. He’s the best defensive LF in the AL and his teammates love him in the clubhouse. He had a problem in BOS, not in NY.
“Stupid take”…Reggie Jackson was always one of my favorite players, because he had swag and presence AND he backed it up on the field of play. When you have “swag” and attitude, but DON’T back it up on the field, you’re just another narcissistic, mercurial, “look at me” jerk.
Ummmm, AGAIN, he’s the best defensive LF in the AL by the numbers and his teammates love him. So your venom is misguided.
…….and I hate hot dog play myself so it’s not like I don’t get you.
Verdugo is tied for 5th among AL leftfielders with +4 DRS and has 1 Out Above Average.
He’s a little above average defensively. Nothing more.
Sorry, Daulton Varsho is the best defensive left fielder (and CF, for that matter) in MLB and it’s not even close
And plays for a lousy team
OMG
Jason Dominguez must be inching closer to returning if the Yankees do trade Verdugo.
I like Verdugo but Dominguez is nearly ready to come back.
lol sounds like the Yankees might have contacted their media guys again….
Doogie Boogie headed to another new location then huh. He makes some fans at stops (me) and alienates others. Shame couldn’t have stayed consistent all year. Yankee stadium was about perfect for his swing.
They pay Dominguez 1/10 of what they pay Verdugo. And he’s a better/switch hitter.
About 2 months ago, I thought that trading Verdugo would make sense, he was swinging a warm bat, and I thought that his roster slot would have been better used with a prospect.
Trading him now would be a great idea IMO, Jazz takes his OF slot, and the Yankees get something for him.
Gitter Done Cashman!!!
I think Jazz will stick at 3B. He only played CF his first game bc Boone didn’t want him playing a new position after a hectic day of traveling. Verdugo, while playing great defense, has been a disappointment. He probably only gets a lottery ticket from a team which needs OF veteran presence.
I love his attitude thus far.
Kinda easy to be this upbeat if you were Jazz.
Last week he was a Marlin, playing meaningless games beyond padding stats for an arbitration raise, this week he is in a Playoff Hunt, on a top tier team.
His willingness to play a position he has never played shows great commitment.
He hasn’t even had time to learn the Yankees’ HR high-fives yet. And I agree. Gleyber, on the other hand, could’ve just said publicly that he’ll do whatever to help the team win. He’s got free agency all over his mind.
With his worst professional season yet.
Verdugo should be a platoon OF at this point. I wouldnt let him face lefties.
Would rather see Gleybor go. Tired of his sloppy butcher act at 2B
I would rather see Gleyber/DJL and Stanton go. Gives Judge/Soto a chance to DH more and stay fresh.
I think we can forget about Stanton. The other two, yes.
Yeah those Stanton cheap years are finally arriving and he has made a decent case for sticking around this year. Besides he will spend plenty of time on the IL for Judge to get plenty of rest playing DH. The Yankee IL list comes with his name preprinted on it and they scratch him out when he is actually healthy.
Bad glove…bad stretches at dish…bad conditioning…bad attitude…bad baserunning…bad contract (free agent). Apart from all this, he’s a steal.
COME ON MORON CHERRINGTON…TRADE FOR HIM
Perhaps it’s a game of connect the dots but I could see St Louis picking him up. Dylan Carlson is rumored to be in a possible deal.
The Cardinals just acquired Pham to go with Siani, Nootbaar, and Donovan. However, adding an outfielder who can play all 3 spots would free up Donovan to return to his super utility role. Plus he offers more offense to compliment Siani’s stellar defense.
He’s so mediocre no contending team would want him for anything more than as a 4th or 5th outfielder.
he’s not going anywhere
his slump is over and unlike everyone else they’ve tried he fits at leadoff
… Why?
I could dook out a steamer that plays better than Verdugo.
“Are you are about that?” – Tim Robinson
With the addition of Jazz Verdugo becomes the odd-bad attitude out. Are there that many teams actually interested or is the New York media trying to drum up interest for Cashman, either way a reliever or a couple of lottery tickets is about all they can expect as a return
That sounds better then nothing when Verdugo moves on this offseason.
There is no way the Yankees sign him.
You’re likely correct, about the New York media trying to help out Cashman. Who would want Verdugo after his last month plus in the Bronx. His best years are as a league average player and he’s been hardly that in recent memory. And of course it’s what you’ve done for me lately mentality
But why?
Lol from who?
Yea phones off the hook w/all the calls frm teams wanting to obtain Verdugo. I don’t think u can even get a lottery ticket for em, just some scrub frm A-ball who’s peaked. Verdugo is a giant turd. Was super happy when Dodgers got rid of em.