Yankees ‘surprised’ Alex Verdugo remains a free agent

TAMPA, Fla. — A number of New York Yankees are curious as to why former teammate Alex Verdugo hasn’t signed with a group but.

“I am surprised,” proper fielder Aaron Choose stated. “He’s such a great player. He brings so much value and versatility to a team.”

“Maybe a little bit surprised because he’s without question a big-league player and a big-league starting player, for me,” supervisor Aaron Boone stated. “It just probably hasn’t lined up money-wise and team-wise and need-wise, but he was great with us.”

“Yes, I am (surprised),” beginning pitcher Marcus Stroman stated. “That’s all I’m going to say on it. But a lot of things surprise in this game nowadays. Just keep it at that.”

Verdugo’s agent, Dan Lozano of MVP Sports activities Group, didn’t return a message in search of remark.

Final season, Verdugo made $8.7 million. A league supply instructed The Athletic that the 28-year-old hasn’t acquired a single major-league supply since turning into a free agent.

Verdugo is one among two gamers who began each recreation within the World Sequence final yr for the Yankees who stay unsigned. First baseman Anthony Rizzo instructed The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal that he nonetheless desires to play in 2025, however that he doesn’t need to settle for what he believes can be a below-market deal.

Verdugo had a down season offensively in 2024 however was dependable on protection and shortly turned a key part of the Yankees’ clubhouse, in accordance with teammates.

In 149 video games, he hit .233 — effectively beneath the .281 profession batting common he carried into final season. He additionally hit 13 house runs with 61 RBIs. His 83 wRC+ ranked 121st amongst certified hitters, in accordance with Fangraphs.

He began the season sturdy. By his first 58 video games, he posted a .764 OPS. However he stumbled to the end with a .575 OPS over his remaining 91 video games. In late September, the Yankees thought-about beginning prime prospect Jasson Domínguez over him however as an alternative opted for Verdugo’s regular protection and the hope that he would contribute within the playoffs. In 14 postseason video games, Verdugo hit .208 with a house run.

The Yankees had acquired Verdugo final offseason from the Boston Pink Sox amid experiences that he had clashed with Alex Cora, their supervisor. However his transition into the Yankees’ tradition appeared largely seamless.

“He was my lockermate from Day 1,” outfielder Trent Grisham stated. “He was my guy. I loved playing with him. I think he’s a great player. Really good defender. Great hitter. Had a little bit of a down year last year, but great hitter, and a great teammate. Fun to be around. Every day, couldn’t stop laughing when you’re hanging out with him.”

“He’s, I think, the definition of ride or die as a teammate,” shortstop Anthony Volpe stated. “We got so close. You saw the plays he made in the outfield, running into walls (and) putting everything out there. He was one of my favorite teammates ever and I think in so many ways, he helped us win games, whether it was on the field or what he could bring to the clubhouse. What’s crazy is, I think maybe me saying that would be surprising to some people, but I just really appreciate so much what he brought to the club and every day.”

“Incredible teammate,” Stroman stated. “Incredible dude.”

The Yankees appeared to maneuver on from Verdugo within the offseason, prepared to provide the job in left subject to Domínguez, a 22-year-old swap hitter with energy who struggled defensively final season within the majors. He continues to look like a work-in-progress in left subject. The Yankees plan to place newcomer Cody Bellinger in middle subject and shift Choose again to proper subject with Grisham because the fourth outfielder, largely filling in at middle subject. Additionally, the Yankees appear reluctant so as to add to their payroll, even with third base unsolved and Gerrit Cole (Tommy John surgical procedure), Luis Gil (lat pressure) and Giancarlo Stanton (tennis elbows) on the injured listing.

A number of Yankees recalled fondly when Verdugo made a catch falling over the wall in left-field foul territory on a Shohei Ohtani popup for the second out with two runners on within the tenth inning of Recreation 1 of the World Sequence. The play could also be largely forgotten since after deliberately strolling Mookie Betts, Nestor Cortes Jr. surrendered a walk-off house run to Freddie Freeman.

WOW!!!

ALEX VERDUGO MAKES THE CATCH AND FLIPS OVER THE WALL pic.twitter.com/RD0gfw9jzf

— FOX Sports activities: MLB (@MLBONFOX) October 26, 2024

“That just sums up everything that he is in one play right there,” Choose stated. “Doesn’t matter — he was making plays like that in April and May when the games aren’t as big. Speaks volumes of the person he is, putting his body out there for the team.”

“I think he can really hit,” Boone stated. “That hasn’t changed. But he went into some struggles there in the middle of the season, but also I think there was some unluckiness there, too, where he had days where he was squaring the ball up a lot. I think he put together a lot of at-bats in the postseason for us and obviously was terrific in our left field. I think there’s more upside in there offensively, too.”

Volpe stated he noticed Verdugo who lives in Arizona within the offseason.

“Then we talked a couple of times on the phone,” Volpe stated. “I don’t really know what to say or whether or not people want to talk about it or not, but he’s grinding. He’s putting a lot of work in in Arizona. He’s basically getting everything he would be able to get without being part of a team.

“I think he’s definitely ready to go. I think this is going to be a really good chapter in his story, and we all wish him the best because there’s not many guys that have done the things he’s done in his career and introduced those kinds of stat lines and stuff like that. It’s pretty crazy that no one values that.”

(Photograph: Harry How / Getty Photos)