The Red Sox Sold Low On Alex Verdugo

Trey Daubert / MLB / December 6, 2023

Alex Verdugo Red Sox — There is no other way to interpret the Alex Verdugo trade. The Red Sox totally sold low here trading him to the Yankees. (Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports)

The Red Sox Sold Low On Alex Verdugo

Craig Breslow is active. He’s already made his second trade since taking over the ship in Boston. The first trade he made was a no-brainer. When it comes to dumping Alex Verdugo, it’s really hard to not think the Red Sox sold low.

I understand why the Red Sox wanted him out of there. Alex Cora clearly hated him and benched him multiple times last year. That doesn’t change the fact that the Red Sox probably botched this trade. Something the Red Sox couldn’t afford to do considering that Verdugo was the main piece of the Mookie Betts trade.

Breslow better be right about these arms. That’s all I’m going to say.

Initial feedback from scouts on the Verdugo deal is the Red Sox got back solid depth, but lower ceiling arms. Fitts throws a lot of strikes, but scouts aren’t convinced he’s a SP longterm. Weissert is a depth RP type. Judice is a wildcard as a 6-8 RHP w/a mid-90s FB who’s YTD.
— Ian Cundall (@IanCundall) December 6, 2023

More depth. The same thing Chaim Bloom was fired for. Because all that guy did was hoard depth. Given the current roster construction, depth wasn’t a problem. Boston needs fixes for the big league team. Not more prospects. Bloom already spent all of his time fixing the farm. This is a trade Bloom would have made. Hoard depth while never receiving a difference maker.

I just refuse to believe an offer like this wouldn’t have been on the table in July. If these arms actually impact the big league team, Sox fans will be able to live with this return. That, however, is a big if. Fitts is a AA arm that may turn into an innings eater. Judice was an 8th round pick this year. Weissert is a depth reliever. None of this gives you eggplant emoji at the current moment.

As it stands right now, this trade sucks. If this move had to be made to open the door for an outfield acquisition like Lourdes Gurriel, maybe this trade will then make more sense. I just have a hard time believing they couldn’t have gotten more for Verdugo. The problem is their own desire to dump him probably lost all of the leverage they may have had.

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