Alex Verdugo Traded from Red Sox to Yankees

The Boston Red Sox today acquired right-handed pitcher Greg Weissert and minor league right-handed pitchers Richard Fitts and Nicholas Judice from the New York Yankees, in exchange for outfielder Alex Verdugo.

Weissert, 28, posted a 4.05 ERA (9 ER/20.0 IP) in 17 games over five stints with the Yankees in 2023, while also posting a 2.90 ERA (13 ER/40.1 IP) with 58 strikeouts and a .184 opponent batting average in 38 games for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. The right-hander allowed just two runs in 10.0 innings over his final seven games of 2023, all in the Majors from September 9-October 1. Selected by the Yankees in the 18th round of the 2016 First-Year Player Draft, the New York native owns a 4.60 ERA (16 ER/31.1 IP) in 29 career Major League games and a 2.90 ERA (100 ER/310.2 IP) in 231 minor league games.

Fitts, 23, was named 2023 Eastern League Pitcher of the Year, going 11-5 with a 3.48 ERA (59 ER/152.2 IP) and 163 strikeouts in 27 starts for Somerset, his first Double-A experience. The right-hander earned 2023 Eastern League Post-Season All-Star honors and was named a 2023 Double-A All-Star by Baseball America, ranking second among Yankees farmhands in wins and third in strikeouts. Selected by the Yankees in the sixth round of the 2021 First-Year Player Draft, the Alabama native has posted a 3.57 ERA (105 ER/264.2 IP) with 294 strikeouts in 49 career minor league starts. He was ranked by MLB.com as the Yankees’ No. 12 prospect.

Judice, 22, was selected by the Yankees in the eighth round of the 2023 First-Year Player Draft. The six-foot, eight-inch right-hander made 59 appearances (six starts) over four years at the University of Louisiana Monroe. After posting a 3.74 ERA (22 ER/53.0 IP) with 66 strikeouts and 15 walks as a senior in 2023, he made three starts for Yarmouth-Dennis in the Cape Cod Baseball League. Following the draft, Judice did not pitch for a Yankees affiliate.

Verdugo, 27, played in 142 games during 2023, making 135 starts in right field and batting .264 (144-for-546) with 81 runs scored and 54 RBI. The left-handed hitter set career highs in triples (five) and extra-base hits (55) while tying his career-high in home runs (13). A 2023 Rawlings Gold Glove finalist, he led American League right fielders in Ultimate Zone Rating (10.6), while tying for the lead in assists (12) and defensive runs saved (nine). Acquired from the Los Angeles Dodgers in a five-player trade in February 2020, the Arizona native has hit .281 (654-for-2,327) with 152 doubles, 335 runs scored, and 255 RBI in 651 career games with the Dodgers (2017-19) and Red Sox (2020-23).

BOSTON RED SOX 40-MAN ROSTER (37)

Pitchers (23): Brayan Bello, Brennan Bernardino, Isaiah Campbell, Kutter Crawford, Wikelman Gonzalez, Tanner Houck, Joe Jacques, Kenley Jansen, Zack Kelly, Mauricio Llovera, Chris Martin, Bryan Mata, Chris Murphy, Luis Perales, Nick Pivetta, Nick Robertson, Chris Sale, John Schreiber, Brandon Walter, Zack Weiss, Greg Weissert, Garrett Whitlock, Josh Winckowski

Catchers (2): Reese McGuire, Connor Wong

Infielders (6): Triston Casas, Bobby Dalbec, Rafael Devers, David Hamilton, Trevor Story, Enmanuel Valdez

Outfielders (4): Wilyer Abreu, Jarren Duran, Rob Refsnyder, Masataka Yoshida

Infielder/Outfielders (2): Ceddanne Rafaela, Pablo Reyes