Alex Verdugo

Expectations for Verdugo going to New York were high as the ballpark and lineup appeared to be a great fit for him on paper. Yet, the final counting stats were very similar to his 2023 numbers while his batting average plummetted 31 point to a career-worst .233. The Yankees did give Verdugo more playing time against lefties than he had with Boston in 2023, but he actually hit them slightly better in 2024. The problem was a career-worst .235 average against rigities, which was 34 points lower than any other previous season. Verdugo does not swing and miss often, but his hard hit rate has declined each of the past four seasons while his bat speed finished just above the 10th percentile in the first season that metric was made public by StatCast. Verdugo was given the volume of playing time as his defensive skills are still a plus, and he will ultimately find a new home with a club who values his defense and his ability to put the ball in play. However, Verdugo needs to end the five-year decline in production to be anything more than a late round fantasy option in 2025. Read Past Outlooks