Why Was Alex Verdugo Upset When the Red Sox Traded Him to the Yankees?

The New York Yankees wanted to improve their team this year. Last year, their offense was not good, so they needed better players. They wanted two left-handed players for the outfield and a pitcher. Their main target was Juan Soto from the San Diego Padres.

The Yankees had good pitchers, so they could trade with the Padres. But first, they got Alex Verdugo from the Boston Red Sox. If they couldn't get Soto, Verdugo would have been their main new player.

How Did Alex Verdugo Feel About Joining the Yankees?

It's rare for the Boston Red Sox to trade with the Yankees. This was only the seventh time in 50 years. Just before the Yankees got Juan Soto, the Red Sox traded Verdugo to them. The Yankees needed a backup plan if they couldn't sign Soto. Verdugo was that plan. The Red Sox were happy to let him go because he didn't meet their expectations and had problems with the team. Verdugo was upset when he heard about the trade. He said, “They sent me to the Yankees?” But the Yankees made him feel welcome. He was happy to leave the Red Sox, especially because of issues with their manager, Alex Cora. When top players like Aaron Judge and Gerrit Cole welcomed him, Verdugo felt even better. He's also okay with the Yankees' rule about not having long beards. He sees this as a chance for a new beginning. In the past, playing at the Yankee Stadium, Verdugo has had a batting average of .252 with some home runs and RBIs.

The Yankees Needed to Make Big Changes This Year

The Yankees had the second-worst batting performance in the league in 2023, only better than the Oakland Athletics. They also had many injured players and ended the season with an 82-80 record. This was disappointing because they didn't make it to the playoffs. The 2023 season was one of their worst in 30 years. They also didn't make the playoffs in 2016. Even though they made the playoffs recently, they didn't go far.

Another problem was that they didn't have many star players besides their captain, Aaron Judge. When Judge got injured and couldn't play for a while, the team struggled. That's why the team leaders promised fans they would make big changes this year. And they did by adding new players like Verdugo.