The New York Yankees went to the World Series in 2024 with Alex Verdugo starting in left field. Less than a year later, Verdugo doesn’t even have a job in Major League Baseball. It’s a stunning fall for a player once touted as a reliable everyday outfielder, and yet another reminder of how often Brian Cashman’s trades backfire.
From October Starter to Baseball Nomad
Verdugo’s tenure in New York was never about superstardom. When the Yankees acquired him from the Boston Red Sox, the hope was that he’d bring stability, a left-handed bat, and steady defense to a lineup desperate for outfield depth. For one season, he did just that, at least enough to hold down the position through the club’s run to the Fall Classic.
But the numbers told a different story. Verdugo hit just .233/.291/.356 in 149 games for the Yankees last year, with 13 home runs and 61 RBIs. His 84 wRC+ put him 16 percent below league average. That marked the third straight season of decline, and his October performance did little to inspire confidence.
Still, the Yankees kept penciling him into the lineup, while Trent Grisham—the player who might have been the better bet—sat waiting in the wings. Grisham has since emerged as a dominant force in 2025, making New York’s decision look all the worse.
Verdugo tried to reset his career this season with the Atlanta Braves, but the results were even more alarming. Over 56 games, he posted a .239/.296/.289 slash line with zero home runs and only 12 RBIs. His OPS sat at a paltry .585, good for a 66 wRC+, making him 34 percent worse than the average big-league hitter.
Even his defense, once a strong selling point, showed signs of slippage. By June, Atlanta had seen enough, and Verdugo was out of a job. For a 29-year-old outfielder who was still starting World Series games less than a year ago, the collapse has been swift and unforgiving.
Cashman’s Trade Record Under the Microscope
For Cashman, the Verdugo deal adds another chapter to a long list of questionable trades. He gave up pitching prospects to land an outfielder whose prime years were already in the rearview mirror. Instead of rejuvenating Verdugo’s career, the Yankees bought into decline.
Meanwhile, Grisham’s 2025 breakout only compounds the mistake. The 28-year-old is slashing .248/.354/.482 with 28 homers and an .836 OPS, transforming into the kind of impact bat the Yankees badly needed during last year’s postseason. It’s hard not to wonder how different things might look if New York had prioritized upside over familiarity.
The sport doesn’t wait around. Careers rise and fall in the blink of an eye, and Verdugo’s descent has been one of the starkest reminders in recent memory. A player who looked like a long-term fixture in Boston just a few years ago, who helped push the Yankees to the World Series in 2024, is now unemployed before turning 30.
For the Yankees, the fallout is a double blow: a wasted trade and another hit to Cashman’s already battered track record. For Verdugo, it’s the harsh reality of a game that can be both rewarding and unforgiving.
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