Outfielder Alex Verdugo crossed enemy traces after the Boston Crimson Sox and New York Yankees agreed on a four-player commerce this previous offseason, giving the centerpiece of the 2020 Mookie Betts deal a clear slate within the Huge Apple.
Thus far, no good for the clean-shaven, pinstripe-wearing Verdugo, who’s failure to breakout in Boston has adopted the 28-year-old to New York on the worst doable time for the Yankees. Though the acquisition of Verdugo was low-risk contemplating New York’s solely on the hook for one season — Verdugo turns into a free agent following this season — the swap has nonetheless confirmed itself to be a failure for the Yankees. With 32 video games remaining within the common season for New York, the group has found it might’t depend on Verdugo to be its dependable third outfielder alongside All-Star’s Aaron Decide and Juan Soto.
“(I am) fairly annoyed,” Verdugo mentioned, per Brendan Kuty of The Athletic. “Lacking lots of pitches that I (expletive) usually hit. Cannot go to left subject the best way I usually do and each time that I do hit the ball arduous and make a superb swing, it appears to be proper at anyone or anyone makes a play. Proper now, we’re carrying it. However like I mentioned, we have got the group (expletive) doing their job, selecting me up and at the very least I am doing good defensively. On that facet of it, I am doing what I can do to assist out the group, however we have got to remain optimistic right here, man. It is a grind and it is a kind of issues that, we’re shut. It looks like we’re so distant, however we’re shut.”
Verdugo’s hitting struggles have been obvious, particularly for the reason that MLB All-Star break. He is slashed an underwhelming .200/.284/.296, going 23-for-115 with one house run, 9 RBIs and 20 strikeouts within the second half of the season, which Verdugo attributed to an odd allergic response attributable to his tattoo ink and the fabric used to make his batting gloves. Faulty batting gloves or not, Verdugo’s offense has solely anchored the Yankees — and it hasn’t gotten any higher. In August, Verdugo’s batted .157/.247/.243 with 11 hits in 70 at-bats, which is not an encouraging indicator with New York in a division race with extra to show than every other group within the American League.
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“On the finish of the day, we’re successful,” Verdugo mentioned, per Kuty. “That is all that issues. Take it for what it’s, however we’re positively grinding. Going by (expletive) we have not gone by in my complete profession. Like I mentioned, I strive not to consider it an excessive amount of. We’re out right here successful and that is the primary factor that I care about.”
There’s not a lot time for Verdugo to flip a last-second swap, begging the query for a way Yankees skipper Aaron Boone will make the most of the eight-year veteran as soon as crunch time arrives at New York’s entrance door and its postseason time.
