Pirates "makes sense" for ex-Dodgers, Yankees, Red Sox free agent, per MLB insider

The Pittsburgh Pirates have remained inactive so far this offseason, failing to add any major names to their roster. They are in need of strengthening their lineup. According to Robert Murray, Alex Verdugo would be a great fit for the team.

During his career, Verdugo has played for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Boston Red Sox and, most recently, the New York Yankees. In 2024, he hit .233 with 61 RBIs and 13 home runs for the Yankees. While he shows decent offensive potential, he has also proven to be reliable in defense, particularly in the corner outfield positions.

Speaking on The Baseball Insiders podcast, Murray emphasized that Verdugo would be a good addition to the Pirates organization:

"As far as the Pirates go, they’re looking for a bat. I’ve also heard they’re looking for a reliever. And I like, this is not sourced by any means, but I think a fit that makes a lot of sense there would be Alex Verdugo. I think Verdugo would get a lot of playing time in Pittsburgh. I think he would be a really good fit there," Murray said (Timestamp: 25:10).

"I don’t know necessarily where that’s at or if there’s been dialogue, but to me, Verdugo and the Pirates makes a whole lot of sense. But I can promise you Ben Cherington and Perry are not sleeping. They are not hibernating. They are indeed trying to upgrade their rosters," Murray added.

The Pirates recently added Andrew McCutchen to their right field reserves. If they get Alex Verdugo, the two could form a strong outfield with Oneil Cruz and Bryan Reynolds, even though Cruz also gets game time as a shortstop.

Alex Verdugo swiftly replaced by Yankees with Jasson Dominguez

Alex Verdugo's numbers weren't strong enough for the New York Yankees to consider bringing him back. Similarly, Gleyber Torres received no bid from the Yankees and later joined the Detroit Tigers on a one-year $15 million deal, and Verdugo will also not be returning to the Bronx.

According to reports, young prospect Jasson Dominguez will become a regular in the lineup. The 21-year-old had a tough 2024 season, appearing in 18 games and hitting just .179. However, he showed promise in 2023, homering four times and batting .258 in eight games. Dominguez will join Aaron Judge and their latest trade acquisition, Cody Bellinger, in the outfield.