Wouldn't that have been something?
According to Boston Red Sox reporter Chris Henrique, the New York Yankees and Red Sox discussed a trade at the trade deadline that would've sent starting pitcher Clarke Schmidt to Boston in exchange for outfielder Alex Verdugo.
This trade would have been interesting for a number of reasons. First off, the Yankees and Red Sox rarely trade with each other since they're division rivals. And while Verdugo would have fulfilled a need for the Yankees as a left-handed hitting outfielder, New York would have weakened their starting rotation by dealing Schmidt.
Beyond American League Cy Young candidate Gerrit Cole, Schmidt has arguably been the Yankees' second best starter this season, posting a 9-8 record with a 4.54 ERA. These numbers aren't exactly eye popping, but Schmidt has done a better job this year beyond what his current statistics say, and is a promising piece for the future.
As for Verdugo, the Red Sox acquired him from the Los Angeles Dodgers in the Mookie Betts trade prior to the 2020 season. He has been a solid outfielder and offensive contributor in four seasons in Boston, but has yet to develop into the star he was expected to be.
In the end, the Yankees were probably better off not making this trade with the Red Sox. Verdugo would've helped strengthen their outfield, but losing Schmidt would potentially cost them a key young starter.
More must-reads: