ESPN: The Yankees cut ties with the $60 million veteran to make room for the top prospect.

The Juan Soto sweepstakes largely involves the New York Yankees. The future of the Bronx is largely determined by Soto’s free agency choice. The Bronx Bombers will have to go to a backup plan if Soto leaves in order to save the 2025 campaign. We can anticipate very well who free players the Yankees will let go, but we are not entirely certain which ones they will sign. Alex Verdugo is the one player who makes the most sense to be allowed to enter free agency.

Zachary Rotman of FanSided concurs. In order to make way for top prospect Jasson Dominguez, Rotman recently forecast that the Yankees will sever their relations with Verdugo. According to Spotrac, Verdugo is expected to sign a $60 million, four-year contract this winter. “Verdugo is currently a free agent, and there isn’t any rational justification for bringing him back. The Yankees will eventually need to see what Dominguez can accomplish while playing on a regular basis in Major League Baseball,” Rotman said. “Assuming Soto or some other outfielder joins the mix, there won’t be room for Verdugo, especially since New York elected to keep Trent Grisham around.”

Verdugo has no justification for playing another pinstripes game. Either Soto will return, or the Yankees will recruit an outfielder like Anthony Santander or Teoscar Hernández. If Jasson Dominguez doesn’t receive consistent playing time, the Yankees will stunt his growth. Until his retirement, Aaron Judge remains a mainstay in the lineup.

Even a few elite prospects, like as Everson Pereira, have the potential to outperform Verdugo, especially at almost $20 million each season.