Alex Cora Reveals How Alex Verdugo Reacted To Yankees Trade

Being traded by the Red Sox might not have caught Alex Verdugo off guard, but the destination wasn't one the veteran outfielder expected.

Boston worked with a rarely utilized trade partner when it dealt Verdugo on Tuesday. Craig Breslow and company sent the 27-year-old to the New York Yankees in exchange for a trio of right-handed pitchers. The morning after the deal, Red Sox manager Alex Cora wished Verdugo well and also revealed how the eighth-year pro handled the news.

"Hopefully, Alex learned from the experience," Cora told reporters, per MassLive. "I learned a lot from coaching him and wish him nothing but the best. I had a conversation with him yesterday. He was very polite. Surprised it was to New York. He wished us the best. We're gonna see him a lot this season. Like I always say, have a great season but not against us."

Many thought the Bronx could merely be a pit stop for Verdugo, who theoretically could be flipped in a bigger move for the Yankees this offseason. However, manager Aaron Boone clearly thinks highly of the 2014 second-round pick and multiple reports claim New York will roster Verdugo in 2024.

If that proves to be the case, Verdugo will play his first series at Fenway Park as a member of the Yankees in mid-June when New York travels to Boston for a weekend set.