Four years ago, Alex Verdugo was the centerpiece of the Boston Red Sox’s Mookie Betts trade. Now, the Red Sox are sending him to their biggest rival.

On Tuesday night, ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported from the MLB Winter Meetings in Nashville that the Red Sox are trading Verdugo to the New York Yankees for three pitching prospects – Richard Fitts, Greg Weissert, and Nicholas Judice. It’s a rare trade between the Red Sox and Yankees – the seventh in the last 50 years. This is also the first major move from new Red Sox president of baseball operations Craig Breslow.

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Verdugo, 27, was acquired by the Red Sox in 2020 in the deal that sent Betts to the Dodgers. With the Red Sox dealing him, the lone piece of that trade left in Boston is catcher Connor Wong. Jeter Downs, the top prospect involved in that trade, was DFAed by the Sox last December.

In four seasons with the Red Sox Vergudo slashed .281/.338/.424 with 43 home runs and 206 RBIs in 493 games. However his production decreased each season, and he hit a career-low .264 with 13 home runs in 142 games in 2023. Verdugo’s lack of effort became an issue this past season, to the point where he was benched at one point in June.

Verdugo was viewed as a logical trade candidate coming into the offseason. On top of his declining play, Verdugo was entering his final year of arbitration and is set to become an unrestricted free agent after the 2024 season.

As for the players the Red Sox got back, here’s a quick look at each…

• Richard Fitts

  Tyler Milliken ⚾️ on Twitter: "Richard Fitts is the 16th ranked prospect in the Yankees System, per @BaseballAmerica.6'3, RHP. Entering his age-24 season.Made 27 starts at AA this season and worked 152.2 IP. Posted a 3.48 ERA/3.92 FIP with a 9.6 K/9 and 2.2 BB/9.pic.twitter.com/YpwDrVw11q / Twitter"

  Richard Fitts is the 16th ranked prospect in the Yankees System, per @BaseballAmerica.6'3, RHP. Entering his age-24 season.Made 27 starts at AA this season and worked 152.2 IP. Posted a 3.48 ERA/3.92 FIP with a 9.6 K/9 and 2.2 BB/9.pic.twitter.com/YpwDrVw11q

  Fitts, 23, was the 12th-ranked prospect in the Yankees’ system before the trade, per MLB.com. A 6-foot-3, 230-pound righty, he was drafted out of Auburn by the Yankees in the sixth round of the 2021 MLB Draft. You can find Fitts’ MLB.com scouting report here.

  Fitts has been a starter in his two years in the Yankees’ system. Last year in Double-A, he went 11-5 in 27 starts, posting a 3.48 ERA and 1.140 WHIP. He struck out 163 hitters with 43 walks in 152.2 innings.

• Greg Weissert

  Tyler Milliken ⚾️ on Twitter: "Greg Weissert is a reliever entering his age-29 season, who has some run in the big leagues the last two seasons.He put up a 4.05 ERA/4.32 FIP in 20 IP with the Yankees this past season. That includes a 9.9 K/9 and 3.6 BB/9.Slider has some break...pic.twitter.com/PTyeQgOkq1 / Twitter"

  Greg Weissert is a reliever entering his age-29 season, who has some run in the big leagues the last two seasons.He put up a 4.05 ERA/4.32 FIP in 20 IP with the Yankees this past season. That includes a 9.9 K/9 and 3.6 BB/9.Slider has some break...pic.twitter.com/PTyeQgOkq1

  Weissert, 29, is the lone pitcher in this trio to have reached the big leagues. The 6-foot-2, 235-pound righty appeared in 29 games in relief over the past two seasons for the Yankees. Last year he made 17 appearances, recording a 4.05 ERA in 20 innings with 22 strikeouts and eight walks.

• Nicholas Judice

  Tyler Milliken ⚾️ on Twitter: "The last piece of the Red Sox return for Alex Verdugo is RHP Nicholas Judice.6'8 relief arm that was drafted in the 8th round this year. Has added weight dating back to college with his stuff continuing to tick up.Currently sits in the mid to low 90s.pic.twitter.com/I9aSYzyLfo / Twitter"

  The last piece of the Red Sox return for Alex Verdugo is RHP Nicholas Judice.6'8 relief arm that was drafted in the 8th round this year. Has added weight dating back to college with his stuff continuing to tick up.Currently sits in the mid to low 90s.pic.twitter.com/I9aSYzyLfo

  Judice, 22, was the Yankees eighth-round pick last spring out of UL-Monroe. Judice was assigned to the FCL Yankees after the draft.

  The 6-foot-8, 230-pound righty went 3-3 as a reliever for the Warhawks this spring. He also briefly pitched for the Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox in the Cape Cod Baseball League this past summer, making three starts.

• What’s next for the Red Sox?

  

  PHOENIX, ARIZONA – JULY 24: Lourdes Gurriel Jr. #12 of the Arizona Diamondbacks bats against the St. Louis Cardinals during the MLB game at Chase Field on July 24, 2023 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Cardinals defeated the Diamondbacks 10-6. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

  Trading Verdugo leaves the Red Sox with one less outfielder on their major league roster. This could be the first move in replacing/upgrading Verdugo. Shortly after the trade, MLB Network’s Jon Morosi reported the Red Sox have been interested in veteran outfielder Lourdes Gurriel.

  Gurriel, a 30-year-old righty, was an All-Star last year in Arizona. In his first season with the Diamondbacks, he slashed .261/.309/.463 with 24 home runs and 82 RBIs in 145 games.

• Alex Barth is a writer and digital producer for 985TheSportsHub.com. Any opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of 98.5 The Sports Hub, Beasley Media Group, or any subsidiaries. Thoughts? Comments? Questions? Looking for a podcast guest? Let him know on Twitter @RealAlexBarth or via email at [email protected].

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