BOSTON — In a span of six months, Alex Verdugo has gone from mad to glad about the trade that sent him from one side of a rivalry to the other.
Initially “upset” about the Red Sox trading him to the Yankees in December, Verdugo walked into Fenway Park on Friday for the first time as a visitor and happy to be on the team atop the AL East.
After spending four years with the Red Sox, Verdugo admitted he had this weekend’s series circled on his calendar, calling it both “special” and “weird” to be back.
But he did not seem bitter about how it has all played out so far.
“I feel like this trade happened for a reason,” Verdugo said Friday afternoon. “Looking back at it, it was better for me.”
Verdugo, acquired for reliever Greg Weissert and minor league pitchers Richard Fitts and Nicholas Judice, has played a key role in the Yankees’ hot start to the season.
After seemingly wearing out his welcome in Boston, where he was the key piece of the package the Red Sox got back from the Dodgers in the ill-fated Mookie Betts blockbuster, Verdugo has been a strong fit inside the Yankees clubhouse.
“I’m just able to be myself,” Verdugo said. “I’m able to show the guys — these guys, they’ve played against me for years and they understand what I bring when I’m out there between the lines. Now they’re seeing it all the way around. I think they just really like the energy that I bring.
“I’m just 100 percent me.”
Manager Aaron Boone made it clear to Verdugo right after the trade went down that he wanted the outfielder to come in and be himself.
His personality wasn’t something the Yankees shied away from, instead believing that it was something they were missing.
“We have a standard and an expectation,” Boone said. “But at the same time, we want you to be who you are. That message not only goes to Dugie but anyone that comes in here. I think our leadership group, led by Aaron [Judge], does a great job of allowing guys to really get acclimated, be themselves but also set that standard and expectation as well.
“He’s just funny and he’s got a little edge to him. He’s just kind of fit in right away and been able to really be himself.”
Boone, Judge and Anthony Rizzo have all said they had been trying to get the Yankees to acquire Verdugo for a few years before the trade actually happened.
Hearing that helped Verdugo settle in quickly and provide the impact he has so far on both sides of the ball.
Shortly after the trade, though, Verdugo created a bit of a stir in his first media availability as a Yankee when he mentioned seeing how Boone has his players’ backs — “Instead of airing people out, have their backs,” Verdugo said.
That was perceived by many as a dig at Red Sox manager Alex Cora, who had benched Verdugo twice last season for a lack of hustle and showing up to the park late before a game.
But on Friday, both Verdugo and Cora talked about any issues they had as water under the bridge.
“Dugie’s a good kid,” Cora said. “I think people are making too much of nothing. … We have a good relationship.”
Verdugo, who shared a hug with Cora on the field during batting practice, echoed that sentiment and then blamed the media for overblowing the saga.
“I think there were just a couple minor things that we bumped heads on and that’s fine,” Verdugo said. “Not everybody is going to always agree on things. But really, I got nothing but respect for AC.
“I’m a little tired of talking about AC when we’re talking about the Red Sox because of the way it ended. We’re still friends. Media and people want to blow it up to however you guys want to blow it up. But it was the simplest thing as being two men that didn’t agree on something, bumped heads. We’re also men where we can reconcile and talk to each other. I don’t really want the media to keep putting it out that we don’t have this friendship.”
As for how he expected to be received in his first game back at Fenway Park?
“Like a Yankee,” Verdugo said with a grin.
