The New York Yankees didn’t build enough outfield depth last season and were forced to use the likes of Jake Bauers, Willy Calhoun, Billy McKinney, Franchy Cordero, and Estevan Florial more than they would have preferred. They learned the lesson, and made it a priority to reinforce the outfield in the offseason. They completed two trades that netted them three starting-caliber outfielders: Juan Soto, Trent Grisham, and Alex Verdugo. Verdugo played for the Yankees’ arch rivals, the Boston Red Sox, since 2020. In just a few months, New York has made him feel at home. He is so comfortable as a Yankee that he offered a quote that will bring excitement to the fan base: According to Talkin’ Yanks, Verdugo told Yankees insider Bryan Hoch that this is the favorite clubhouse of his MLB career. That’s certainly noteworthy, as he has played for two additional contenders in his career before the Yankees: the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Red Sox. Verdugo is the man behind the “dawgs” motto that the Yankees have been associated with during the season. He likes to have a good time and his energy is contagious in a very positive way. His teammates love him and fans are growing fond of him, too. He is also performing on the field, as he entered Monday hitting .260/.348/.416 with six doubles, two homers, and more walks (10) than strikeouts (8). All things considered, he has been a fine addition for the Yanks in the 2024 season. The outfield went from being a liability to a strength, in part thanks to him.
