Alex Verdugo is coming off of a rather forgettable season with the Yankees. Playing mostly in left field, the former Red Sox managed just a .647 OPS at a park that caters to left-handed hitters.
He didn't fare too much better in the postseason, either, hitting to just a .622 OPS. And, of course, he was the final out of the World Series, striking out at the hands of now-Red Sox pitcher Walker Buehler. Not the best way to end your season.
Likely owing to his less than stellar performance last year, Verdugo still remains unsigned with the season just weeks away.
Verdugo was a part of the infamous Mookie Betts trade of February 2020. He ended up being the most impactful piece for the Red Sox, putting up respectable numbers in his four years in Boston. Of course, it's not like his competition was fierce — Connor Wong has only gotten regular playing time in the last two seasons, while Jeter Downs was designated for assignment in 2022.
Former Red Sox Alex Verdugo is still without a new home as Opening Day gets closer
The Red Sox traded Verdugo to the Yankees in exchange for three pitchers in December 2023, just before the Yankees acquired Juan Soto. Although he was off to a solid start — his OPS was as high as .812 in early May — he began to regress after a June series in Boston. He would hit only four more home runs after homering against the Red Sox on June 14th.
Verdugo's peripheral stats don't exactly do him any favors, either. His average exit velocity, barrel rate and hard-hit rate were all below the 33rd percentile last year.
Still, there are some things to like about Verdugo's game, which is why, even in spite of his offensive struggles, it's hard to believe he's still unsigned. He had very low chase and whiff rates last year, which resulted in him striking out in just 15% of his plate appearances. He's also still a solid defender with a good arm, and he's only 28. Any commitment longer than a year would admittedly be foolish, but Verdugo is probably worth a one-year prove it deal for a team looking for value.