Alex Verdugo’s disciplinary issues didn’t lead to trade from Red Sox
After former Red Sox outfielder Alex Verdugo was benched twice this past season for various disciplinary issues by manager Alex Cora, the writing was on the wall.
Trade rumors swirled during the summer and leading up to the MLB trade deadline, with Verdugo’s name attached to teams like the Yankees and Astros.
Despite being in Cora’s doghouse, Verdugo’s trade to the Yankees did not have to do with his issues with his skipper and disciplinary issues, according to the team.
“It didn’t [factor in] given that what we were looking to do is kind of understand how we could make our team better,” chief baseball officer Craig Breslow told MassLive’s Christopher Smith. “Of course, I wasn’t here for any of those things. But in terms of those being a consideration, they weren’t. We like the group of arms that are coming back and felt like we had a chance to improve our club by doing that. And … spreading out some of those at-bats across some of the young guys we have.”
Boston’s outfield was crowded headed into the offseason with left-handed hitters. Boston needed to move someone from the group in a trade to acquire additional pitching depth. Breslow did just that in the four-player swap with the Yankees during the Winter Meetings.
“One thing we have is really a dynamic, athletic group of outfielders,” Breslow told Smith. “So I think as how we’re currently constructed, getting those at-bats in the outfield spread across Duran, Rafaela, Abreu and then obviously Yoshida.”
As of now, the Red Sox will enter the 2024 season with outfielders Masataka Yoshida, Jarren Duran, Rob Refsnyder, Wilyer Abreu and Ceddanne Rafaela on its 40-man roster.
Follow Chris on Twitter @ChrisHenrique
For additional Red Sox, Bruins, Patriots, MLB and NFL content follow Beyond the Monster on Twitter @BeyondtheMnstr.
Four years of "Average Alex" combined with his me-first attitude, is plenty enough to make the Sox dump him for three minor leaguers. With Verdugo removed from the equation, the young outfielders will have more opportunities to show their stuff. Also, the potential for another year of soap operas is reduced. Addition-by-subtraction was enough justification for the trade anyway, no matter the return.