The New York Yankees are heavily involved in the Juan Soto sweepstakes. Soto's free agency decision almost completely decides the fate of the future in the Bronx. If Soto bolts, the Bronx Bombers will need to pivot to a backup plan to salvage the 2025 season.
While we're not completely sure which free agents the Yankees will sign, we can make a pretty good guess on which free agents the Yankees will let go. There's one guy in particular that makes sense more than anybody else to let walk in free agency: Alex Verdugo.
FanSided's Zachary Rotman agrees. Rotman recently predicted the Yankees to cut ties with Verdugo to clear room for top prospect Jasson Dominguez. Verdugo is projected to land a four-year, $60 million contract this winter, per Spotrac.
"Well, Verdugo is a free agent now, and there's absolutely no logical reason to bring him back. At some point, the Yankees are going to have to see what Dominguez can do at the MLB level playing regularly," Rotman wrote. "Assuming Soto or some other outfielder joins the mix, there won't be room for Verdugo, especially since New York elected to keep Trent Grisham around."
There's no logical reason for Verdugo to play another game in pinstripes.
The Yankees will either bring back Soto or add an outfielder like Teoscar Hernández or Anthony Santander. Jasson Dominguez needs to get regular playing time, or the Yankees are going to kill his development. Aaron Judge is a staple in the lineup until he retires.
There are even a few top prospects like Everson Pereira that could produce better than Verdugo, especially for close to $20 million a season.
