MLB insider labels Pirates as fit for 2024 Yankees outfielder

The clock is ticking for the Pirates to find their answer in right field, and with the passage of time comes a narrowing down of their selection. Nonetheless, there are still plenty of options to choose from, and one of the notable veterans that is still available on the market is Alex Verdugo, one of the players who recently fueled the Yankees' World Series run.

Although he was not exactly the most productive at the plate in their run, he was still a part of the team and had some special moments. He hit free agency immediately afterward and is likely a candidate for a one-year deal, which represents a typical Pirate signing. In fact, they signed six different players to one-year, major league deals last offseason, one of whom was Andrew McCutchen, who the Pirates just brought back again on his third consecutive one-year deal.

There is no reported interest on either side, but Robert Murray stated on the Baseball Insiders Podcast this week that Verdugo is a fit that makes a lot of sense in Pittsburgh. Verdugo has a history of being above average at the plate, and that is exactly what the Pirates are looking for, even though he did not show that in New York.

Robert Murray labels Alex Verdugo as a fit for the Pirates as they search for outfield help.

Last season with the Yankees, Verdugo belted 13 home runs, 28 doubles, and a triple to generate a slugging percentage of .356. That paired with an on-base percentage of .291 to create an OPS of .647. His wRC+ reached just 83, which is 17 points below league average, and he drove in 61 runs.

His bat was not great, but he still does possess a career wRC+ of 101 and OPS of .742, which is fairly average. Additionally, he brings a few solid Statcast metrics that include one of the best squared-up rates in the league at 33.4% and some impressive plate discipline. His chase rate was just 25.5% and his whiff rate sat at 15.5%.

One positive that would come with Verdugo is his above-average glove. He produced two outs above average and saved seven defensive runs across the entire outfield in 2024. On top of that, his arm value ranks in the 96th percentile, and his fielding run value was rated at three last season.

Overall, Verdugo would be an upgrade to the projected Pirates lineup for 2025, but does not move the needle much. All Murray stated was that this is a possible fit, so there's a chance nothing surfaces out of it, but it is definitely something to look out for, given the history of the Pirates and cheap one-year pacts.