"Mets please stay away"; "Is he going to sign a ML deal?" - MLB fans react as Pirates, Mets, and Jays reportedly target Alex Verdugo

Alex Verdugo started in left field as the New York Yankees won the American League pennant last season, and is looking for a new MLB team to play for. With the start of the season less than three months away, the rumor is that he could find a deal soon.

On Tuesday, Boston Red Sox beat writer Chris Cotillo tweeted that the Pittsburgh Pirates, New York Mets and Toronto Blue Jays may be pursuing Verdugo.

The update got fans talking, and few were positive about the idea of adding the former New York Yankees outfielder. Others found the idea amusing:

"Pirates lol, is he going to sign a ml deal?"

Mets fans were direct in their comments surrounding the rumor about potentially adding Verdugo to the roster.

"Mets please stay away," one fan posted.

"Mets on Verdugo? Please help me make sense out of that. Hope Pirates get him," one fan said.

"Stay away from Verdugo @Mets please," another fan said.

"Mets involved for what?? Literally for what??," another commented.

Mets fans were nearly all in agreement that they wanted their team to stay away from Alex Verdugo and they weren't the only ones:

"Don’t even think about it @BlueJays," one fan commented.

"Long as you don’t say “Boston” it’s all good," another said.

Meanwhile, other fans were either intrigued about the option or just discussed the rumor:

"Verdugo ending up on the Pirates makes more sense than anything," one fan said.

Alex Verdugo's tough season with the New York Yankees

After Alex Verdugo posted disappointing numbers in the regular season in 2024, the New York Yankees let him go. Verdugo faced boos many times throughout a season where he went .233, but he played an important role in October. Verdugo came up with a clutch hit, a go-ahead single, in the seventh inning of Game 1 of the ALDS. However, he hit .208 in 48 postseason at-bats.

Teammate Jazz Chisholm spoke to reporters after the game, lauding Alex Verdugo's ability to play in the spotlight:

"He lives for this," Chisholm said. "He's played in big cities before. He played in Boston, he played in L.A., and I'm not talking about the Angels."

Verdugo could be on the verge of signing a contract before the start of the 2025 season, and it looks like the choices have been narrowed down.