After a heartbreaking loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the World Series, the New York Yankees enter one of the the greatest offseason in club history.

With a slew of players set to become free agents, including outfielder Juan Soto, the Bronx Bombers will likely undergo an even bigger facelift than the one in 2023-24. This overhaul ended up being a success due to the subsequent appearance in the Fall Classic, so they need to make equally impactful roster changes in order to finish the job this time around.

In particular, the Yankees’ biggest offseason moves in 2023-24 have been trades aimed at fortifying the outfield; In addition to Soto’s blockbuster trade with the San Diego Padres, New York also acquired Alex Verdugo in an extremely rare trade with their nemesis, the Boston Red Sox. Both outfielders are officially free agents once the World Series is over, but while Soto is still considering where he’ll play in 2025 (probably to the highest bidder, which could be the Yankees themselves), Verdugo has an idea of where he wants to play next. year.

“This is the closest group of guys I’ve ever been around,” Verdugo told the media after the game. “These guys make me emotional, just because of how much they mean to me, how much they accepted me and let me in. So we have some things to think about, but I really want to be back to pinstripes to help we win one.

Taking Verdugo’s comments into account, it now comes down to whether the Yankees feel the same way and want him back; This is certainly a delicate situation.

Verdugo had the worst full season of his career in the Bronx, slashing just .233/.291/.356 with 28 doubles, 13 homers, 74 runs scored, 61 RBIs, an 83 wRC+ and 0.6 fWAR . Despite his strong defense in left field (which earned him a Gold Glove nomination) and incredible chemistry in the team’s clubhouse, his disappointing offensive performance is a cause for concern; Additionally, the Yankees plan to have their top prospect, Jasson Dominguez, officially move into a starting role in the outfield, further complicating things.

Ultimately, Verdugo’s fate will likely depend on whether the Yankees return Soto. If they do, the 28-year-old will likely leave in free agency, as there would be no room for him as a starter; The Bronx Bombers would use a combination of Dominguez, Soto and Aaron Judge in the outfield. But if Soto ends up leaving, the Yankees could legitimately consider getting Verdugo back and looking for a bounce-back season; Dominguez would eventually become the team’s starting central defender.

Verdugo has a lot of upside for a competitive team, so even if the Yankees let him go, he should still accrue plenty of interest. Still, his desire to stay in the Bronx is a testament to how well he has fit in with the Yankees, even with a rough year.