In a bid to address outfield holes ahead of the crucial 2024 season, the New York Yankees traded Alex Verdugo from the Boston Red Sox and Juan Soto and Trent Grisham from the San Diego Padres. These two remained the only significant moves the Bronx Bombers have managed to accomplish this off-season.
While Juan Soto’s acquisition has made the most amount of noise, the significance of Alex Verdugo’s addition cannot be understated. The six-year MLB veteran has a career average of .281 and .765 OPS. Having said that, Verdugo recently changed his look to fit into the Yankees’ decades-old policy. However, the fans initially failed to recognize the outfielder due to the uniqueness of the fresh look.
Alex Verdugo Shares Clean-Shaved Looked After Joining The Yankees!
The New York Yankees owner, George Steinbrenner, inducted a no-hair policy decades ago. The policy disallows any personnel associated with the franchise to don any kind of facial hair, except for a mustache. While baseball evolved, the no-hair rule stayed as a tribute to George’s ideology. Thus, the newly acquired Yankee, Alex Verdugo, recently donned a new look that was in adherence to the franchise’s policy. Verdugo unveiled a clean-shaved face, and the images of the same caught the fans’ eyes, leaving them in splits. The outfielder previously donned a wide beard, which became an inherent part of his overall personality. However, to be a Yankee, Alex made the ultimate sacrifice.
Alex Verdugo was traded from the Boston Red Sox earlier this month in exchange for right-handers Richard Fitts, Greg Weissert, and Nicholas Judice. The outfielder posted .264 with 13 home runs, 54 RBIs, and .745 across 142 games in 2023. Most importantly, Verdugo is a-handed hitter, which will bring much-needed balance to the Yankees’ right-dominant hitting lineup. Also, the Yankee Stadium’s short right field porch will assist Alex heavily. Thus, by the early looks of it, Verdugo is designated to achieving success in the Bronx, given he absorbs the pressure of being a Yankee. Especially after a lost 2023 season, the pressure of a turnaround will remain immense. Therefore, Alex Verdugo has to stay game-ready from the opening day of the 2024 season onwards.
Yanks’ Top Outfield Target Currently Pursued By Cubs, Blue Jays!
Before the New York Yankees traded for Alex Verdugo and Juan Soto, Cody Bellinger topped its free agency target list. However, after Soto and Verdugo’s addition, the club seemed to have dropped the pursuit. Moreover, rumors have it that the Chicago Cubs and Toronto Blue Jays remain the only active suitors in Bellinger’s sweepstakes. Cubs’ interest is understandable as Cody single-handedly kept the team’s postseason hopes alive in 2023.
On the other hand, the Toronto Blue Jays lost Shohei Ohtani to the LA Dodgers, thus creating a vacuum in the outfield. And Cody Bellinger is the only top-tier position player available in the market. Thus, as per current market dynamics, Cody Bellinger will land with either the Cubs or Blue Jays unless the New York Yankees witness a change of heart.