It’s no secret that the Yankees’ lineup has been atrocious since late June. There are quite a few culprits, including LF Alex Verdugo.
What Should The Yankees Do About Alex Verdugo?
After being traded to the Yankees in December, the 28-year-old became a key New York lineup member to start the season. However, things have changed for the former Red Sock and Dodger, not for the better. In his last 30 games, Verdugo has a slash line of .167/.225/.258. Even worse, he has only 2 homers and 9 RBIs.
Even his typically elite defense has taken a turn for the worse. That culminated in misplaying a routine fly ball against the Orioles on July 14, which cost the Yankees a sweep (which would’ve been their first since June 4-6 against Minnesota).
It’s becoming embarrassing for Verdugo; he could get benched if he doesn’t pick it up soon. If that happens, what will the Yankees opt to do in left field going forward?
Belief From Boone
When reporters asked about Verdugo’s struggling bat, Aaron Boone confirmed his confidence in his left fielder: “I think he’s going to hit. He’s going to hit like Alex Verdugo moving forward. That’s what I’m counting on.”
That was before the Yankees began their series against the Rays on Friday. Verdugo went 1-14 during that series with 3 K’s and 0 walks. This resulted in Boone removing him from the cleanup spot in favor of catcher Austin Wells.
So, maybe Boone doesn’t have too much faith in Verdugo. But even if he does seek to replace the LF spot in the lineup, there aren’t too many options. That is until a few key players return from injury.
Stanton’s Return Forces A Change
If Verdugo doesn’t pick it up, a potential option for the Yankees is to replace him with Trent Grisham. When Giancarlo Stanton returns from the IL (supposedly very soon) and takes the DH spot, Aaron Judge will likely resume playing center field. This nudges Grisham back to the bench.
Grisham’s excellent fielding abilities are worth putting him in the lineup. His OPS of .799 over his last 30 games is much higher than Verdugo’s (.483). It makes much more sense to play Grisham in left field. But Boone seems hesitant to take Verdugo and his $8.7 million bat out of the lineup, even if it makes the team better.
Potential Replacements
The Yankees also have other options when it comes to finding a replacement outfielder. They have depth in the minors in Jasson Dominguez, but there is currently no timetable for his return.
In terms of outside help, a few players have reportedly been on the Yanks’ radar, including Jazz Chisholm Jr. and Luis Robert Jr. However, left field isn’t New York’s primary concern, and the asking price for either of those players is likely to be prospect Spencer Jones. The young outfielder has struggled in Double-A this year, but he would still yield a high-end return. Though, if New York parts with Spencer Jones, it’s not likely to be in return for another outfielder.
The Likely Outcome
Based upon the track record of Aaron Boone and the Yankees front office, Verdugo will likely ride out the remainder of the season. As bad as his bat has been, he’s still a viable fielder. Additionally, taking a big personality like his out of the lineup could affect the lineup’s chemistry. But if that does end up happening, the best option going forward is probably Trent Grisham or even Dominguez when he’s healthy.
No matter how you put it, Verdugo has been the definition of a liability for the Yankees. New York desperately needs production from left field if they want to turn things around and make a splash in October.
Main Photo Credits: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
