Craig Breslow Red Sox pitchers acquired Yankees Alex Verdugo

Red Sox outfielder Alex Verdugo benched for lack of hustle, manager Alex Cora looks for improvement. Pitchers acquired in trade show promise.

The Globe's Red Sox reporters deliver a comprehensive baseball newsletter, covering everything from game highlights to off-season news. During his time with the Red Sox, Verdugo had a solid performance, with a .281 batting average, .338 on-base percentage, and .424 slugging percentage, resulting in a .761 OPS and 43 home runs. However, his lack of hustle led to being benched by manager Alex Cora on multiple occasions.

Cora emphasized the need to manage each player differently, citing a conversation with Hall of Fame manager Jim Leyland. He acknowledged his good relationship with Verdugo but stressed the importance of addressing weaknesses in the team.

Weissert, the only pitcher from the trade to reach the majors, pitched 20 innings for the Yankees in 2023, with a 4.05 ERA. He also had a 2.90 ERA in 40⅓ innings last season for Triple A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Breslow, a member of the Red Sox front office, highlighted Weissert's track record of striking out batters and potential for further development.

Fitts, another promising player, registered a 3.48 ERA in 152⅔ innings with 163 strikeouts for Double A Somerset last season. Breslow expressed confidence in Fitts' ability to become a successful starter, praising his unique fastball and slider combination.

The newsletter provides an in-depth look at player performances, team dynamics, and potential for growth, offering baseball enthusiasts valuable insights into the sport.