3 NL clubs could pursue trade for star Red Sox outfielder, per MLB insider
Has this everyday outfielder played his final home game at Fenway Park?
The Boston Red Sox’ new Chief Baseball Officer Craig Breslow already made his first trade earlier this month, shipping Luis Urias to Seattle for a promising young reliever.
However, he’s still searching for his first true blockbuster. It appears one could be in the works this offseason.
Jim Bowden of The Athletic identified star outfielder Alex Verdugo as a trade target for three National League teams (subscription required). He came up just shy of an All-Star selection in 2023, finishing the year with a .264/.324/.421 slash line, 7.5 percent walk rate, and 15.4 percent strikeout rate. He also excelled in right field, posting 3.5 dWAR and a 10.6 UZR at the position.
Let’s explore the clubs that could pursue a deal for Verdugo this winter.
Atlanta Braves
Could the rich get richer?
Atlanta has been quite active this offseason and continues to search for additional pieces that will get them back into the World Series. Of the six targets Bowden identified for Atlanta, only two were non-pitchers. Verdugo was one, and the other was Twins outfielder Max Kepler.
The Braves’ need for a left-field bat is clear. Eddie Rosario manned the position in 2023 but struggled down the stretch, especially in the postseason. Plus, he’s a free agent and unlikely to be re-signed for his age-32 campaign.
With Ronald Acuna Jr. in right field and Michael Harris in center, Verdugo would shift to left. That’s certainly a manageable adjustment for the 27-year-old, especially since he wouldn’t have to deal with Fenway Park’s Green Monster.
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pirates are fringe contenders and are expected to pursue numerous upgrades throughout their lineup this offseason.
Connor Joe spent plenty of time in right field last season, but he could easily shift to left field, first base, or designated hitter. Verdugo is a clear upgrade over Joe and would pair quite nicely with Bryan Reynolds in the corner outfield spots.
Pittsburgh represents an interesting trade partner given the fact that Boston could seek compensation directly from their big-league roster. Reynolds and starting pitcher Mitch Keller have both been linked to the Red Sox before, though it’s hard to imagine either of them being traded for Verdugo in a one-for-one swap if the Pirates are serious about contending.
Nevertheless, the Pirates and Red Sox could certainly work something out.
Washington Nationals
It’s hard to picture the Nationals as buyers or contenders, but Bowden suggests they’ll look for a veteran bat this offseason. If none of the free-agent options appeal to Washington, trading for Verdugo could be the next-best outcome.
Lane Thomas patrolled right field for the Nationals in 2023. He was excellent at the plate but remained a liability on defense, so Washington wouldn’t have any qualms about shifting him to left field if they added Verdugo to play right.
There’s also the possibility that Thomas, who had never produced more than 1.1 fWAR before last season, could be due for regression. Verdugo has a more stable track record and therefore offers more predictability long-term.
Boston might struggle to find fair compensation for Verdugo on the Nationals’ big-league roster, but they do have some appealing names within their farm system.
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