Jon Heyman of the New York Post reported yesterday that Alex Verdugo has signed a one-year, $1.5 million agreement with the Atlanta Braves to provide additional depth to/for the club’s outfield. Verdugo has been optioned to Triple-A Gwinnett to get in playing shape and to be ready if (and when) Atlanta needs him.
Verdugo’s off-season adventure has been a mystery to many of his former teammates. When asked about Verdugo being unsigned, Aaron Judge was quoted in The Athletic as saying: “I am surprised. He’s such a great player. He brings so much value and versatility to a team.” In that same article, Yankees’ manager Aaron Boone said: “Maybe a little bit surprised because he’s without question a big-league player and a big-league starting player, for me.”
Last season in New York, Verdugo played in 149 games – mostly in left field – and slashed .233/.291/.356, for an 83 OPS+. All of those numbers were below his career average (before the season) of .281/.337/.428 and a 105 OPS+.
Verdugo was originally drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the second round of the 2014 draft out of Sahuaro High School in Tucson, Arizona, and made his big league debut three years later in Dodger Blue. FanGraphs’ Prospect Report had him as a 50 Future Value (on the 20-80 scale), with high marks for hitting, raw power, and throwing. However, their report did state: “Verdugo has undeniable feel for contact but we think he moves to a corner and may not have power that fits there. We’re also down on the makeup.”
Shipping Out To Boston
The outfielder was famously part of the Mookie Betts trade in 2020, wherein he changed coasts along with prospects Jeter Downs and Connor Wong. In addition to future Hall of Famer Betts, the Dodgers also received – and took on the salary for – pitcher David Price.
In four seasons in Boston, Verdugo never lived up to the raw power hype. He hit .281, slugged a decent .424, but hit only 43 home runs, and collected 8.1 bWAR, while having a 105 OPS+. After the 2023 season, the Red Sox made the rare intra-division (and even rarer, Red Sox–Yankees) trade, sending Verdugo to the Bronx in return for pitchers Richard Fitts, Greg Weissert, and Nicholas Judice. Fitts and Weissert stand to be key contributors to the 2025 BoSox, while the Yankees once again find themselves short on pitching, and no longer employee Verdugo.
A New York Minute
Last season the Yankees paid the outfielder $8.7 million for very below average performance. In fact, during the post-season, a great many Yankee fans were clamoring for rookie sensation Jasson Domínguez to get more reps in left field over the struggling Verdugo. In 13 games across three playoff series, he got nine hits, including one homer. And, as highlight reels will forever remember, he struck out against former teammate Walker Buhler to end the 2024 World Series.
Georgia On His Mind
The Braves signed Jurickson Profar to play left field this season. With former MVP Ronald Acuña, Jr. out until at least May, and with Jarred Kelenic underwhelming last season (.231/.286/.679) and during spring training (.211/.286/.733), president of baseball operations Alex Anthopoulos decided he needed reinforcements. The irony being that Kelenic, like Verdugo, was once part of fan-hated trade, when the New York Mets sent him to Seattle in return for Robinson Canó and Edwin Diaz. The difference being that Mets fans were furious that the club sent their number three prospect away; while no Dodger fan lamented the swap of Verdugo. Neither player has lived up to their pre-big league billing, and will now find themselves competing for playing time in an otherwise stacked Atlanta lineup.
Two things that Verdugo brings to the table the Kelenic does not are playing in a big market and playoff experience. Kelenic has played in Seattle and Atlanta, and has a total of 18 post-season plate appearances (two hits and five strikeouts). Verdugo, on the other hand, has played in 25 post-season games and had 103 plate appearances. While Verdugo’s numbers aren’t lofty, he does have the reps that the Braves may value come October, when they expect to be playing meaningful baseball.
Over the winter, The Athletic predicted a 2-year, $26 million deal for Verdugo. Most other publications didn’t even bother prognosticating. Kelenic avoided arbitration with the Braves, agreeing to a $2.3 million deal. Will Kelenic be 50% better than Verdugo? Will either make a positive contribution to a team that boasts Profar, Acuña, and Michael Harris II, with Bryan De La Cruz and Eli White also rostered? Will either be on the club come August? Who’s to say.
For now, less than a week before Opening Day, Alex Verdugo at least has a job. And now that he does, it is his mission to prove to the front offices in Los Angeles, Boston, and New York, that they all missed on a late bloomer. Because, if he doesn’t, this may be his last major league contract.
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