Alex Verdugo shaves off beard 2 months early to get Yankees feeling after trade

Alex Verdugo complied with the New York Yankees' rule against facial hair by a lot more than a whisker. New York acquired the 27-year-old outfielder from the Boston Red Sox on Dec. 5 for right-handers Greg Weissert, Richard Fitts and Nicholas Judice, part of an offseason makeover that included getting slugging All-Star Juan Soto in a trade with San Diego the following day. Yankees owner George Steinbrenner issued a code in 1976 banning facial hair, lengthy locks that dropped below the collar and long sideburns.