The arbitration deadline created a lot of buzz amongst New York Yankees fans as a record number of salary agreements were reached in a span of a day. The franchise settled contracts of as many as 10 arbitration-eligible players, with Juan Soto being the most expensive one ($31 million).
Besides, the Yankees awarded $14.2 million to Gleyber Torres for his standout performance in the 2023 season. Meanwhile, the Bronx Bombers also tendered a generous one-year contract to outfielder Alex Verdugo. However, the fans weren’t happy with the amount agreed upon by the two parties. And subsequently called out the inflated price tag via social media.
Yankee Fans Feel Alex Verdugo Is Being Overpaid This Season!
The New York Yankees agreed to a one-year $8.7 million contract with outfielder Alex Verdugo to avoid arbitration this off-season. Verdugo was traded last month from Boston Red Sox in a rare trade deal. Across 142 games, he hit .264 with 13 home runs and .745 OPS last season. However, the outfielder didn’t get along well with the Red Sox manager Alex Cora. The skipper apparently benched Verdugo in the latter half of the season due to disciplinary issues. Regardless, Brian Cashman deemed him a good fit in the Bronx and thus traded him this off-season to bolster the outfield depth. Not only that, but Alex Verdugo is expected to play left field every day this upcoming season.
However, the New York Yankees fans are not happy with Alex Verdugo’s massive payday. The discontent among some fans stemmed from the perceived high cost of the one-year deal for Verdugo. Moreover, the resentment was palpable on social media platforms, with fans expressing their opinions on the contract terms. Some argued that the $8.7 million deal was an overpayment for Verdugo, considering various factors such as his recent performance, injury history, and the team’s overall financial situation. One common point of contention was Verdugo’s offensive production, with some fans highlighting that his power numbers and on-base percentages were not commensurate with the salary he was set to receive. Comparisons with other players in similar roles across the league fueled discussions about the relative value of the deal. Certainly, Verdugo will be under pressure to live up to his salary this coming season.
Juan Soto Surpass Shohei Ohtani To Fetch Record Contract With Yankees!
In other news, the New York Yankees tendered an expensive contract to Juan Soto this off-season. At the arbitration deadline, the Yanks agreed to a $31 million contract with the generational talent, thus making it the largest one-year deal for an arbitration-eligible player, per Jon Heyman. Last season, Shohei Ohtani fetched $30 million in arbitration and became the league’s most expensive rental piece.
But this off-season, Juan Soto has surpassed the magical figure. The New York Yankees traded the generational outfielder during winter meetings last month in a blockbuster seven-player swap deal. Soto, a three-time All-Star and four-time Silver Slugger winner, is set to don the pinstripes in 2024. He is expected to aid the Yanks’ desperate attempt to bounce back from the lost 2023 season and also actively contest for the World Series championship.
