Despite ‘bad’ year, ex-Red Sox calls OF Yankees ‘favorite team he played for’

The first eight years of Alex Verdugo’s career in the big league have all taken place in major markets. He made his debut with the Dodgers from 2017 to 2019 and spent four seasons with the Dodgers Red Sox from 2020 through 2023 and was a Yankee this past year.

As it turns out, his lone season in New York, which culminated in a trip to the World Series, was his best experience yet.

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“Honestly, it was great,” Verdugo told reporters Wednesday night before Game 5. “Man, it was really cool. I know it wasn’t my best personal year on offense. We’ve been working through some things a bit.

“But as far as the teammates and being with the guys, this is my favorite team I’ve ever played for,” he said. “I really enjoy it. I think there are things that you know maybe one day we can get back to. If it’s not next year, maybe it will be another year. But I would like to come back and show what type of player I really am. I think we’ve seen it defensively, sometimes offensively, but I’m usually a lot more consistent.”

The Red Sox, fed up with Verdugo’s actions after multiple clashes with manager Alex Cora last season, sent the outfielder to the Yankees in December for three pitchers (Richard Fitts, Nicholas Judice and Greg Weissert).. Verdugo immediately became New York’s everyday left fielder in his free agent season, and despite a strong offensive start, did not position himself well for the open market.

Verdugo struggled at the plate for most of the season. The 28-year-old hit .233 with 13 home runs, 28 doubles, 61 RBIs and a career-low .647 OPS in 149 games. In 62 games from July 7 through the end of the season, he hit just .213 with three home runs, nine doubles, 16 RBIs and a .566 OPS in 257 at-bats, eventually losing his job to rookie Jasson Domínguez in September. The Yankees went back to him for the postseason; in 13 playoff games starting Wednesday, he went 9-for-45 (.200) with a homer and seven RBIs.

From an individual perspective, 2024 was disappointing for Verdugo. But his first-ever trip to the Fall Classic made it a rewarding one.

“To be entering one of my worst years of my career offensively (free agency) is a bummer,” Verdugo said. “Again, I’m in the World Series. I feel truly blessed to be on this team and play for a winning organization and be able to contribute.

“It is what it is. Free freedom of choice, which takes care of itself. Ultimately, we focus on today.”

Earlier this week, The Athletic’s Jim Bowden ranked Verdugo as the 39th best free agent on the market this year and projected a two-year, $26 million contract for him. Bowden mentioned the Yankees, Twins, Athletics and Mariners as possible combinations.