Keith: Yankees will likely keep rolling with Alex Verdugo
Alex Verdugo finally came through for the Yankees on Wednesday night, driving in two with a double for his only hit in four at-bats to help the Bombers get the win and avoid what would have been a disastrous series loss to the historically putrid White Sox.
Still, Verdugo’s night only kept his season OPS at .665, below league average, and dropped his season on-base percentage to .297, hardly ideal for a hitter who has consistently been getting at-bats in the leadoff spot.
Many fans have been clamoring for Verdugo to be bumped down in the lineup, or removed completely, but Keith doesn’t see that happening.
“The Yankees don’t care. Judge wanted him,” Keith said. “They gave up Greg Weissert and some randoms for him. They’re gonna see it through.”
Keith says the Yankees are known for hanging on to players too long to try and justify their acquisition or contract, whether it be Joey Gallo, Josh Donaldson, or Aaron Hicks. Verdugo could become a similar storyline if he doesn’t wake up from his brutally long slump, and Keith doesn’t see a world where Jasson Dominguez comes in to take those at-bats away from Verdugo.
“I just think they’re getting [Dominguez] more at-bats and more seasoning,” Keith said of the top-ranked Yankee prospect. They already got the extra year for him. Dominguez not being up here yet has to be a developmental thing, and also them dying hard on their trades and their contracts. They traded for Alex Verdugo.
“I want to see Dominguez out there, in center field or left field.”
















