According to reporter Francys Romero, multiple teams have expressed interest in Alex Verdugo’s availability, though there is no indication that a trade is imminent. However, Romero notes that it’s still possible Verdugo could be traded. The outfielder, who is in the final year of arbitration eligibility, is owed approximately $2.9 million for the rest of the season out of his $8.7 million salary.
The Yankees acquired Verdugo from the Red Sox in an offseason deal, marking a rare trade between the two rivals. He started strong with his new team but has since struggled, posting a .222/.264/.346 slash line over his last 297 plate appearances. While Verdugo has contributed defensively as the regular left fielder, his overall offensive performance has been inconsistent, adding to the Yankees’ challenges in finding reliable offense beyond Aaron Judge and Juan Soto.
With Giancarlo Stanton returning from the injured list and taking over the majority of the designated hitter duties, Judge will move back to center field. If Verdugo is traded, Trent Grisham and utility player Oswaldo Cabrera could handle left field, though it’s more likely the Yankees will call up top prospect Jasson Dominguez, who was recently activated from the Triple-A injured list.
Dominguez, who didn’t make his 2024 debut until mid-May due to Tommy John surgery and missed additional time with an oblique strain, has played only 25 games this season. Despite his impressive performance last season with a .980 OPS in 33 plate appearances before his injury, the Yankees might prefer to give him more Triple-A experience to ensure he’s fully healthy and prepared for the major leagues.