Many fans around MLB were shocked to discover on May 12 that Alex Verdugo had signed a minor league deal with the San Diego Padres over the offseason. Unfortunately for Verdugo, the day most fans learned of his tenure in San Diego was also the day he was released.
Verdugo signed his minor league deal with the Padres on March 1 and he lasted just over two months in the organization. Padres beat writer Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune reported that the former Boston Red Sox outfielder experienced a shoulder injury that requires season-ending surgery to repair.
San Diego has released Verdugo in the wake of his injury. He didn't appear in a single game at any level of the minor leagues before his cut.
The Red Sox had Verdugo in their outfield during his last few good years, before they traded him to the New York Yankees in 2024 and before he signed a short-lived minor league deal with the Atlanta Braves in 2025. Verdugo came to Boston from the Los Angeles Dodgers as part of its return from the dreadful Mookie Betts trade, and every time Sox fans hear his name, it's a reminder of one of the worst trades ever made.
Former Red Sox outfielder, Mookie Betts trade return Alex Verdugo released from Padres minor league deal after season-ending injury
Verdugo slashed .281/.338/.424 in 493 games over his four seasons with the Red Sox (including the COVID-19 pandemic-shortened 2020 campaign). His production at the plate decreased with each passing season and his run-ins with Alex Cora for disciplinary reasons gave Boston enough reasons to move on from him before his rookie contract expired.
In contrast to the Betts trade, Boston trading Verdugo to the Yankees for Richard Fitts, Greg Weissert and pitching prospect Nicholas Judice was a great move by Boston. Fitts was a solid depth starter for the Red Sox when he was healthy, then they traded him to the St. Louis Cardinals for Sonny Gray. Weissert has been a staple out of the Sox's bullpen for the last three seasons and he had a 2.97 ERA through 134 appearances in 2024-25 (he hasn't been as successful this season, but that doesn't erase the past).
Verdugo slashed .239/.296/.289 over 56 games before they designated him for assignment in July. It'll be tough for Verdugo to break back into the big leagues after his rough seasons in New York and Atlanta, and with a season-ending injury and surgery under his belt, teams may not want to take the risk of signing him.
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