*Photo from ESPN*
Trades between these two foes are few and far between. The New York Yankees have acquired OF Alex Verdugo from the Boston Red Sox in exchange for RHP's Greg Weissert, Richard Fitts, and Nicholas Judice, according to Jeff Passan of ESPN. Both teams have confirmed the trade.
The Yankees have been on the hunt for an outfielder this offseason as they look to round out their group in the outfield and add another quality bat. Enter Verdugo, who provides above average defense and a solid bat to a Yankees team in need of both. He's a rental, as he's set to enter free agency after the 2024 season ends.
Since the divisional era began in 1969, the Red Sox and Yankees have made just 8 trades, including this one. The last major league trade was ahead of the 2021 season, when Adam Ottavino and Frank German joined the Red Sox for a player to be named later.
The Red Sox were looking to add to their organizational pitching, both front line and depth pieces. This move accomplishes the latter. They get three pitchers in exchange for offloading an excess lefty bat in Verdugo, with the Red Sox having had 3 lefty outfielders on the roster in addition to Verdugo.
Verdugo completed his 4th season with the Red Sox in 2023 after being traded from the Dodgers. He ended the year with a .264/.324/.421 slash line, hitting 13 home runs and 37 doubles to go with 54 RBI's in 142 games. He had a particularly disappointing second half of the season in Boston, leading to the trade.
Weissert is the lone major league piece coming back to the Red Sox, having made his MLB debut in 2022. Across 2022 and 2023, Weissert has a 4.60 ERA, 4.29 FIP, and 1.277 WHIP in the majors, averaging 9.5 strikeouts per 9 innings in 31 1/3 innings and 29 relief appearances.
Fitts was ranked the 12th overall prospect in the Yankees system according to MLB Pipeline. Named the Eastern League pitcher of the year in 2023, Fitts had a 3.48 ERA and 1.140 WHIP, averaging 9.6 strikeouts per 9 in 27 starts and 152 2/3 innings for Double A Somerset.
The last piece coming to Boston is Judice, who was chosen by the Yankees in the 8th round of the 2023 draft from Louisiana-Monroe. The 6 foot 8 righty has yet to make his professional debut since being drafted.
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