Ex-Red Sox Alex Verdugo Sends Three-Word Message Amid Bleak Free Agency
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Ex-Red Sox Alex Verdugo Sends Three-Word Message Amid Bleak Free Agency
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Former Boston Red Sox outfielder Alex Verdugo needs a job.
Verdugo entered the open market this offseason in search of a new contract, a fresh start and employment before teams gathered for spring training. That still hasn’t happened yet, forcing Verdugo to patiently await his next opportunity after reaching the World Series — and collapsing — as a member of the New York Yankees last season.
The 28-year-old hit .208 throughout the playoffs, made a few bone-headed errors in the outfield and struck out during the final at-bat in Game 5 of the Fall Classic, sealing the deal for the Los Angeles Dodgers. It was a fitting end to yet another subpar campaign from Verudgo, and despite it all, the eight-year veteran remains optimistic, based on the language included in his latest social media post.
“IN DUE TIME,” Verdugo captioned a highlight reel on Instagram.
Perhaps it took all four months for Verdugo to compile enough highlights with New York to put together the 48-second-long video. Verdugo batted just .233/.291/.356 with 13 home runs and 61 RBIs across 149 games with the Yankees, all the while demonstrating why the Red Sox netted a mini win in trading the underperforming outfielder to the Bronx. Verdugo still hasn’t broken out as a hitter, has upgraded slightly defensively and hasn’t matured enough for teams to entrust offering him a multi-year contract.
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When Verdugo underwent an awful 11-game slump to begin the month of August, he didn’t vow to spend a few extra hours in the batting cages or the film room. Instead, Verdugo blamed his tattoo ink as the root cause, claiming an allergic reaction between the ink on his hands and the material of his batting gloves made it difficult to hit.
No, that isn’t a joke. That’s exactly what Verdugo claimed, and according to him, it’s an issue that’s impacted his past few seasons, including Verdugo’s letdown four-year run with the Red Sox.
“My hands hurt,” Verdugo said in August, per Randy Miller of NJ.com. “They blister. Then it opens and starts scabbing. It’s like super dry skin. I’ve been dealing with this since they started barking in ’21.”
Verdugo’s 13 home runs tied a career high, and his .233 batting average underwent a notable drop-off from his .264 batting average with the Red Sox in 2023. The only silver lining for Verdugo was being a finalist for a Gold Glove Award, and losing to Cleveland Guardians left fielder Steven Kwan. That’s it. The hype that followed Verdugo throughout the minor leagues and from Los Angeles to Boston in 2020 hasn’t come to life.
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The Yankees, with no incentive to welcome Verdugo back for 2025, made a handful of improvements that included acquiring two-time All-Star outfielder Cody Bellinger from the Chicago Cubs. New York also added 2022 National League MVP Paul Goldschmidt, leaving Verdugo in the dust, awaiting a phone call like a teenager waiting for a reply back from his high school crush.
Better known as “Writer Gio” in the comments section. Salem State product.
Featured image via Vincent Carchietta/Imagn Images
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Yankees Could Reunite With This $60 Million Player to Fill Void at DH
The New York Yankees are looking at their options to fill the void left at designated hitter. The organization has no timetable for when Giancarlo Stanton could return to the team, and the Yankees need to find an alternative.
While there has been speculation about Jasson Domínguez potentially taking over as the DH, his play hasn’t warranted the opportunity.
Instead, the Yankees should bring back this $60 million slugger to fill the gap who is very familiar with playing at Yankee Stadium.
Alex Verdugo had a bit of a down year in 2024 — .233 average with 13 home runs and 61 RBI. In terms of batting average, it was his second-lowest in his career. However, Verdugo tied his career-high in the home run department.
Bringing back Verdugo to the Bronx would be a win-win for the Yankees. This is a team that never officially replaced Juan Soto and could benefit from a player who brings some spark to the lineup. It would also allow the organization to rotate him into left field if the Yankees decide to roll the dice with Domínguez.
Verdugo’s market value is currently $60 million over four years. With the 2025 season this close to commencing, it’s hard to see Verdugo receiving a multi-year deal or even a one-year deal at that price.
The Yankees could probably get Verdugo on a one-year, $9 million deal. It would help the organization fill a temporary need while giving Verdugo a chance to bet on himself before hitting free agency again in 2026. Even if Stanton returns in a month, it doesn’t hurt the Yankees to have an additional depth piece.
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Drew VonScio is a Newsweek contributor based in Pittsburgh, PA. His focus is on MLB content. Drew has been with … read more
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