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5 Players Entering Final Months With Yankees

If the Yankees would like to pay Juan Soto after this season, it makes sense to let these players come off the payroll. With injuries and struggles on the field for some of these players, it makes sense to move on from them after this season. Here are five Yankees who could enter their final months with the team and will not return in 2025.

By Adam Bernstein

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New York Yankees v Minnesota Twins / David Berding/GettyImages
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4: Jonathan Loaisiga

A player the Yankees should not bring back is Jonathan Loaisiga. The right-handed reliever will become a free agent after this season. Loaisiga has been in the Yankees organization since 2016, and during his tenure in New York, he has suffered several injuries. He had Tommy John surgery at the start of the 2016 season during his time in the minors, missed time last season after undergoing surgery to remove a bone spur from his right elbow, and will miss this entire season due to a torn UCL in the right elbow, just to name a few of his injuries he has suffered with the Yankees.

When Loaisiga was healthy throughout his tenure in New York, the Yankees had a reliable reliever in him that could be used in set-up and closer situations. He pitched 24+2/3 innings for the Yankees in 2018. He followed it up in 2019 with 31+2/3 innings across 15 appearances for the Yankees. Loaisiga finished the 2021 season with a 2.17 ERA and 69 strikeouts in 70+2/3 innings. While Loaisiga has been an excellent arm for the Yankees' bullpen over the last seven years at the Major League level, his struggles to stay healthy in recent years may mean it's time to move on from the right-hander.

3: Alex Verdugo

This one may come as a shock to some, but it makes sense. The Yankees should refrain from bringing back Alex Verdugo after this season. Heading into the 2024 season, New York desperately needed outfielders as they have struggled to find a consistent left fielder for years, but now the Yankees may have too many outfielders for the future. The Yankees will have Aaron Judge, Trent Grisham, Jasson Dominguez, Jazz Chisholm, and Oswaldo Cabrera next year. If they call up No. 2 prospect Spencer Jones and re-sign Soto, there's no room for Verdugo.

If the Yankees want to allocate their money effectively and once again prioritize Soto in free agency, it makes sense to let Dugie walk. However, if Soto leaves the Yankees, I wouldn't be opposed to re-signing Verdugo. The Soto sweepstakes will include several teams and take a while, so Verdugo may want to find his next home before the Yankees offer him. We can expect him to receive many offers in free agency. Still, it would be challenging for the Yankees to bring back both Verdugo and Soto, and with all the other outfielders the team will have on the 40-man roster next season, not everyone will get playing time.

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