Former New York Yankees outfielder Alex Verdugo continues to be a free agent as Opening Day approaches.
Although the Yankees elected to not deliver him again after a lackluster season, his ex-teammates and supervisor are stunned to see he is nonetheless with no job. That features Yankees captain Aaron Choose.
“I’m stunned,” he instructed Brendan Kuty of The Athletic. “He’s such an amazing participant. He brings a lot worth and flexibility to a group.”
Choose additionally recalled the play Verdugo made in opposition to the Los Angeles Dodgers in Recreation 1 of the World Sequence that, on the time, regarded prefer it may have saved the sport. His over-the-railing catch of a Shohei Ohtani pop-up within the tenth inning put the Dodgers on the verge of a loss earlier than Freddie Freeman hit a walk-off grand slam.
“That simply sums up all the things that he’s in a single play proper there,” Choose stated. “Doesn’t matter — he was making performs like that in April and Might when the video games aren’t as huge. Speaks volumes of the individual he’s, placing his physique on the market for the group.”
Verdugo made $8.7 million with the Yankees final yr however has not obtained a Main League provide, a supply instructed The Athletic.
“He is with out query a big-league participant and a big-league beginning participant, for me,” Yankees supervisor Aaron Boone added. “It simply most likely hasn’t lined up money-wise and team-wise and need-wise, however he was nice with us.”
Yankees gamers bear in mind Alex Verdugo as a ‘nice teammate’
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Verdugo confirmed his potential largely as a member of the Boston Pink Sox, the place he performed from 2020 to 2023. In that point, he hit .281 with a .761 OPS. These numbers dropped to .233 and .647 respectively in his one yr with the Yankees.
“He was my lockermate from Day 1,” outfielder Trent Grisham stated. “He was my man. I liked taking part in with him. I believe he’s an amazing participant. Actually good defender. Nice hitter. Had just a little little bit of a down yr final yr, however nice hitter, and an amazing teammate. Enjoyable to be round. Each day, couldn’t cease laughing once you’re hanging out with him.”
Shortstop Anthony Volpe echoed Grisham’s sentiment about Verdugo as a teammate.
“He’s, I believe, the definition of journey or die as a teammate,” he stated. “We received so shut. You noticed the performs he made within the outfield, operating into partitions (and) placing all the things on the market. He was certainly one of my favourite teammates ever and I believe in so some ways, he helped us win video games, whether or not it was on the sphere or what he may deliver to the clubhouse. What’s loopy is, I believe perhaps me saying that might be stunning to some folks, however I simply actually respect a lot what he delivered to the membership and each day.”
“Unbelievable teammate,” Stroman added. “Unbelievable dude.”