Alex Verdugo, now with the New York Yankees after being acquired from the Crimson Sox, insists he has no exhausting emotions towards Boston supervisor Alex Cora after twice being benched final 12 months.
Verdugo, a left-handed-hitting nook outfielder, performed for Cora for 3 seasons earlier than a uncommon commerce between the AL East rivals in December.
“It is a kind of issues that, it is slightly bit bizarre, as a result of outdoors of the sport, he was nice. At the same time as a supervisor, he is a great supervisor,” Verdugo mentioned Thursday from the Yankees’ spring coaching complicated in Tampa, Florida.
“In sure methods, ‘AC’ was exhausting on me, however I haven’t got any exhausting emotions towards him. It is a kind of issues. Towards the top, we form of ran our course out slightly bit,” Verdugo mentioned. “However as an individual and outdoors of baseball, I beloved him. I beloved his children, his household.”
Verdugo was first benched by Cora on June 8 for not hustling between first and second base on a grounder an evening earlier, and once more Aug. 5 for arriving late on the ballpark.
Verdugo’s story of trades
The Boston Crimson Sox agreed with their rivals, the New York Yankees, to commerce Alex Verdugo in alternate for pitchers Richard Fitts, Greg Weissert, and Nicholas Judice again in December of final 12 months.
Through the 2023 season, Verdugo hit .264 with 13 house runs, 54 RBIs and a .745 OPS in his fourth 12 months with Boston. He was a Golden Glove finalist, had 12 assists from the outfield and had +9 DRS.
Verdugo got here to Boston as a part of the commerce for Mookie Betts in 2020, then one of many high prospects within the Los Angeles Dodgers farm system.
