TAMPA — Alex Verdugo and his former manager with the Red Sox, Alex Cora, were reunited at Steinbrenner Field on Wednesday after the new Yankees outfielder knocked Cora following his trade to The Bronx in December.
At the time, Verdugo said he looked forward to playing for Yankees manager Aaron Boone because of “the way [Boone] has his players’ backs. You want to see some fire. Instead of airing people out, have their backs.”
It came after Cora benched Verdugo twice last season, once for a lack of hustle and again for arriving late to a game.
Asked about Verdugo’s comments before the Yankees’ 9-4 loss to the Red Sox on Wednesday, Cora said, “He hasn’t played for [Boone] yet. I know he liked the ‘Savages [in the box rant],’ but I know he liked the Red Sox for a while. I like [Verdugo]. He made me a better manager. Not everything was perfect, I admit that, but he was a good player for us.”
Pressed further about disciplining Verdugo before he was shipped to the Red Sox’s archrivals in December, Cora said, “The funny thing is, he isn’t the first player I have benched in five years. It just happened [that] it became public.”
Verdugo has said he’s also eager for a fresh start.
He’s also due to be a free agent for the first time following the season, which Cora believes he could use as motivation.
“Between that and being traded,” Cora said. “He always talked about wanting to be with the Red Sox for a long time. It didn’t happen. I bet he would love to stay with the Yankees for a long time.”
In his final season with the Red Sox, Verdugo got off to a blazing start, with an OPS of .856 through his first 80 games, but in his last 70 games, the lefty-swinger’s production plummeted, with a .620 OPS.
“Last year, especially the first part of the season, he was probably our best player,” Cora said. “The way he played defense, the way he went about it. He just needs to be consistent in everything…. He’s still learning, and he’s the first to admit he’s not the final product.”
That includes when it comes to hitting lefty pitching.
Verdugo has a career .665 OPS versus lefties, compared to .807 against right-handers. It was an issue that became more apparent following Verdugo’s trade from the Dodgers to the Red Sox.
“The only thing that was surprising the last two years was the lack of production against lefties,’’ Cora said. “I think he’s a good hitter that can hang in there with lefties, and he didn’t do it.… I think that’s the next step for Alex, to hit lefties. I do believe he can do that.”
And being surrounded by hitters like Aaron Judge, Juan Soto and others will help.
“It looks like he’s gonna hit in the bottom of the lineup,” Cora said. “He’s a good hitter hitting seventh.”
On defense, Cora believes Verdugo will benefit from playing just one position in the outfield.
“Playing left field, he’ll be OK,’’ Cora said. “We saw it in ’21, when you leave him in one spot, he gets locked in and it’s a lot easier for him. You’ve just got to take care of him physically.”