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Recently, Alex Verdugo, the outfielder for the New York Yankees, has openly criticized his former team, the Boston Red Sox, over their approach to roster building. The Yankees traded Verdugo this winter, who expressed his disappointment with the Red Sox’s decision-making at the last few trade deadlines.
A Rare Trade Between Rivals
A rare trade between the two rivals this past offseason marked Verdugo’s journey from the Red Sox to the Yankees. The Yankees sent three pitching prospects to Boston in exchange for Verdugo. Verdugo has since been performing well, authoring a .261/.317/.432 line with excellent defense in 2024.
Verdugo’s Critique
Verdugo’s critique of the Red Sox stems from his desire for a more aggressive approach to winning. He fondly remembers the 2021 season when the Red Sox had a winning team and made it to the ALCS. “When you’re winning in Boston, those fans and everything, it feels special out there. 2021 was my favorite year,” Verdugo said.
However, he felt that in the subsequent years, the Red Sox were lacking the necessary pieces to build a strong team. He expressed his disappointment over the team’s passivity at the trade deadlines, stating, “We didn’t have the pieces that we needed. To not get them at the trade deadlines was a little bit tougher, too”.
Verdugo suggested that the Red Sox were playing the long game, focusing on revamping the minor leagues and bringing in new prospects. However, he wished for more initiative from the team to force winning.
Red Sox’s Approach
The Red Sox’s approach to team-building has been a topic of discussion. They were 52-52 and three games out of a wild-card spot on the morning of the 2022 trade deadline. They both added and subtracted at the deadline, but their approach was seen as half-hearted.
The Red Sox moved on from lead executive Chaim Bloom last September, partly due to the ownership’s impatience with his slow approach to team-building. The new CBO, Craig Breslow, had an active offseason, albeit a low-key one with fewer big names.
Looking Forward
As the Yankees and the Red Sox prepare to meet for the first time this season later this week, the spotlight will undoubtedly be on Alex Verdugo. This series will mark Verdugo’s first trip back to Fenway Park since his trade. Whether the Red Sox fans will boo him or cheer him remains to be seen.
Regardless of the reception, Verdugo’s critique of the Red Sox’s roster building has certainly added an extra layer of intrigue to the upcoming series. It will be interesting to see how the Red Sox respond, both on and off the field.
