TAMPA – The Yankees have seen enough of Alex Verdugo over the past four years that they would have liked to see him leave the Red Sox and join their lineup.
“I’ve been preaching for years, ‘You’ve got to try to get that guy,'” Aaron Judge said this week.
Apparently the judge was not alone.
“[Anthony] “Rizzo has given me hints over the years at first base, like, ‘Hey, brother, I’m trying to get you,'” Verdugo said Thursday morning inside the Yankees’ clubhouse at Steinbrenner Field. “I told him, ‘No, that’s not true, that’s not true.’ But as soon as I got here, Liz said, ‘I told you so.’ It’s nice to know that some people are pushing me. They like the way I play and the flair I bring. ”
The Yankees’ front office finally acquired Verdugo in an unusual trade with the Red Sox during the offseason, sending a trio of pitchers to Boston.
The Red Sox responded from a crowded outfield, but Verdugo also clashed with manager Alex Cora and was benched twice last season for being late to the park and then lack of energy, and Verdugo was the only Red Sox player in the league who clashed with manager Alex Cora and was benched twice last season for being late to the park and then lacking energy. He seemed exhausted by the reception.
“In a way, AC was tough on me,” Verdugo said. “But I don’t have any hard feelings towards him. It was one of those things towards the end, he kind of ran the course. But as a person and outside of baseball, I loved him. I loved his children and his family was wonderful. His children played with my children.
“It’s one of those things that’s a little bit strange because outside of the game he’s been great. As a manager, he’s a good manager. We just had a little bit of a disagreement towards the end. teeth [wish] he is the best I hope he can manage it for many more years. But I’m very happy with where I am now. ”
Aaron Boone, a close friend of Cora, said the Yankees did their homework on Verdugo before acquiring him in December.
He added that the left-handed outfielder will get a “fresh start” in pinstripes.
“He comes in here as a blank slate as a guy that a lot of people in the room have a lot of respect for,” Boone said. “He’s adapted very well here early on. I feel like he’s one of those players who’s still scratching the surface, even though he’s had a good start to his career.”
Verdugo didn’t put up monster numbers against the Yankees – he hit .263 with five home runs and a .715 OPS in 55 games with the Yankees – but he still impressed the judges. .
The judge said he admired Verdugo for being a “gamer” and a “competitor” who played through injuries.
“I play all season every year,” Verdugo said. “Even if I have a bruise on my heel or my shoulder is a little bit down, I’m going to play through it. Just make the most of what I have that day and do my best in that situation. I’m trying. I’m going to push through no matter what.”
