Latest news with #Verdugo
Newsweek
3 days ago
- Sport
- Newsweek
Yankees, Braves Castoff Alex Verdugo May Get Yet Another MLB Shot
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The seemingly endless saga of how Alex Verdugo went from promising, highly ranked prospect to the player that nobody wants is one of the more puzzling stories in MLB over the past few years. Now, it appears that Verdugo — who, though healthy, has played only 56 big-league games this year and has been without a team since July 5 — may be on his way back to The Show one more time, even after his own hometown paper, the Tucson-based Arizona Daily Star, declared his career at an end. CLEVELAND, OHIO - OCTOBER 17: Alex Verdugo #24 of the New York Yankees looks on from the dugout during the sixth inning against the Cleveland Guardians during Game Three of the American League Championship Series... CLEVELAND, OHIO - OCTOBER 17: Alex Verdugo #24 of the New York Yankees looks on from the dugout during the sixth inning against the Cleveland Guardians during Game Three of the American League Championship Series at Progressive Field on October 17, 2024 in Cleveland, Ohio. MoreBleacher Report's Kerry Miller listed Verdugo among his potential late-season waiver-wire moves contenders could make. "And there he sits once again, unsigned for over a month at this point, even as teams like the Guardians, Royals and Phillies could put just about any warm body with outfield experience to some use," Miller wrote. The Los Angeles Dodgers' second-round draft pick in 2014, Verdugo rose to be the organization's No. 1 prospect by the start of the 2019 season. But a year later, he was traded to the Boston Red Sox as part of a package that brought 2018 American League MVP Mookie Betts to Los Angeles. After the 2023 season and a series of run-ins with Boston manager Alex Cora, the Red Sox shipped Verdugo to the New York Yankees. But when he became a free agent after the 2024 season, the Yankees turned their backs on him. And so did every other team. Until, that is, the Atlanta Braves signed him to a minor league deal just before the season got underway. The Braves called him up on April 18. By July 5, after Verdugo recorded a .239 batting average and .585 OPS with zero home runs, the Braves released the 29-year-old after he went through the waiver wire with no team putting a claim on him. More MLB: Ex-Yankee With 'Off-Field Issues' Expected Back in Majors After Braves Shocker Nor has any team has expressed interest in Verdugo since then, but that may soon change, according to an analysis by Kerry Miller of Bleacher Report. "Despite a decent 2024 campaign (at least in the outfield) with the Yankees in which he even hit a home run in the World Series, nobody seemed to want Alex Verdugo this past offseason," Miller wrote. "And there he sits once again, unsigned for over a month at this point, even as teams like the Guardians, Royals and Phillies could put just about any warm body with outfield experience to some use." More MLB: Ex-Yankees $9.2 Million Outfielder's 'Sad' Message as Free Agency Gets No Takers The Royals in particular are in a battle to get back to the playoffs for a second straight season after an eight-year absence, sitting four games off the third and final AL Wild Card spot. Yet of their three regular outfielders, none has an OPS over .668. Despite a couple of down years, Verdugo still carries a respectable career OPS of .732. At $138 million, Kansas City carries the 12th-lowest payroll in baseball, making Verdugo who could be acquired for the prorated remainder of his $1.5 million Braves contract — approximately $375,000 — a viable option for a late-season playoff push. More MLB: Braves Announcement Appears to Seal Fate of Yankees Castoff Alex Verdugo
Yahoo
18-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Former Boston Red Sox Alex Verdugo designated for assignment (report)
The Atlanta Braves have designated ex-Red Sox outfielder Alex Verdugo for assignment, The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal reported Wednesday. The Braves needed to open a spot on the active roster for Jurickson Profar, who is returning from an 80-game PED suspension. Verdugo signed a one-year, $1.5 million contract with Atlanta on March 20 after receiving little interest in free agency. The 29-year-old batted .239 with a .296 on-base percentage, .289 slugging percentage and .585 OPS in 56 games (213 plate appearances). He had zero homers. All 10 of his extra-base hits were doubles and he knocked in only 12 runs. Verdugo spent four seasons with Boston (2020-23) after being acquired with Connor Wong and Jeter Downs from the Dodgers for Mookie Betts on Feb. 10, 2020. He posted a .281/.338/.424/.761 line with 43 homers, 124 doubles and eight triples in 493 games (2,071 plate appearances). The Sox traded him to the rival Yankees on Dec. 5 for Richard Fitts, Greg Weissert and Nicholas Judice. His one year in New York didn't go well. He slashed .233/.291/.356/.647 in 149 games (621 plate appearances). More Red Sox coverage 3 Red Sox predicted to make All-Star Game, MLB insider says Red Sox, following poor road trip, institute changes to pre-game hitters' meetings Red Sox unveil pitching plans for suspended game, regularly-scheduled contest Terry Francona returns to Boston with Reds: 'I had eight really, really good years here' How Red Sox 'beat' other clubs to 6-foot-7 lefty prospect who hits 97 mph Read the original article on MassLive.
Newsweek
04-07-2025
- Sport
- Newsweek
Braves Announcement Appears to Seal Fate of Yankees Castoff Alex Verdugo
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. After a difficult season in last year with the New York Yankees, a season that seemed to to be summed up by his three-pitch strikeout to end the World Series, Alex Verdugo decided to to become a free agent for the first time in his career. That also was a difficult experience for Verdugo. He went until one week before opening day before receiving any offers for his services at all. When the phone finally rang, it was the Atlanta Braves, offering him a $1.5 million deal, a sharp cut from the $9.2 million the Yankees paid him the previous year Verdugo started the season in Triple-A, getting the call-up on April 18. But his tenure with the Braves also proved difficult, and now it is over. On Wednesday, the Braves announced that Verdugo had been designated for assignment. DENVER, CO - APRIL 29: Alex Verdugo #8 of the Atlanta Braves walks off the field in the third inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on April 29, 2025 in Denver, Colorado. DENVER, CO - APRIL 29: Alex Verdugo #8 of the Atlanta Braves walks off the field in the third inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on April 29, 2025 in Denver, move came after Jurickson Profar, the Braves' $42 million offseason free agent signing, once again became eligible to play after serving an 80-game suspension for alleged use of performance-enhancing drugs. Profar homered in his first game back on Wednesday, helping propel the Braves to an 8-3 victory over the Los Angeles Angels at Truist Park and drawing an immediate contrast with Verdugo, who in 197 at-bats over 56 games failed to hit a single home run. In 559 at-bats in his one year with the Yankees, Verdugo tallied 13 home runs. He also hit 13 the prior year in 546 at-bats for the Boston Red Sox. His slump with Atlanta was particularly pronounced. Verdugo produced only 47 hits for the Braves, with just 10 going for extra bases. In the end, he managed just a .585 OPS and minus-0.2 WAR. More MLB: Yankees Castoff Faces Reckoning on Braves Future as $100 Million MVP Nears Return Following his one season in New York, Verdugo expressed hope that he could return to the Yankees. "I would like to come back and just show the type of player that I really am," he said at the time, as quoted by the New York Post. "I think we've seen it defensively, seen it at times offensively, but I'm usually a lot more consistent." Unfortunately for Verdugo, the Braves did not see it either, on either side of the ball. Playing 54 games in left field, he produced just one defensive run saved, according to Fangraphs. By designating Verdugo for assignment, the Braves now have seven days from Wednesday to either arrange a trade for him, or place him on waivers for the purpose of releasing him. If he is not traded or claimed by another team off the waiver wire, Verdugo can again become a free agent, or he can return to the minor leagues if Atlanta offers him that option. More MLB: Yankees Castoff May Be Casualty of Banned Braves $42 Million Star's Return
New York Post
02-07-2025
- Sport
- New York Post
Alex Verdugo DFA'd after woeful Braves stint
Alex Verdugo's tenure in Atlanta is already over. The ex-Yankees outfielder was designated for assignment by the Braves on Wednesday, barely halfway through the season, according to The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal. Verdugo, 29, is now out of a job after signing a one-year, $1.5 million contract with Atlanta in late March, which followed a long offseason of searching for his next team. After spending the first few weeks in the minors, Verdugo was called up in mid-April, hitting .341/.396/.455 in 48 plate appearances through the first month. Atlanta Braves left fielder Alex Verdugo (8) on second base after hitting a double to drive in a run against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the second inning at Truist Park. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect But it all went downhill from there. Verdugo finished his Braves stint hitting .239/.296/.289 with zero home runs in 213 plate appearances. Jurickson Profar, who is returning from an 80-game PED suspension, is taking Verdugo's roster spot. The latest news continues a rough stretch in Verdugo's big league career. In 2024, during his first and only season in New York, the 29-year-old hit .233/.291/.356 with just 13 home runs in 621 plate appearances while spending most of his time in left field. Atlanta Braves left fielder Alex Verdugo (8) hits a single against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the eighth inning at Truist Park. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect During last season's World Series against the Dodgers, Verdugo expressed desire to wear pinstripes again beyond the season. 'I know it wasn't my best personal year on offense,' Verdugo said before the fateful Game 5. 'I think there would be [the possibility] that maybe one day we can come back — if it's not next year, maybe it's another year. But I would like to come back and just show the type of player that I really am. I think we've seen it defensively, seen it at times offensively, but I'm usually a lot more consistent.' Instead, the Yankees moved on, signing Cody Bellinger to play center field and giving the starting left field job to youngster Jasson Dominguez.
New York Times
02-07-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Braves designate Alex Verdugo for assignment to make room for Jurickson Profar: Source
ATLANTA — The Braves have designated veteran outfielder Alex Verdugo for assignment to clear a roster spot for left fielder Jurickson Profar, sources told The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal. Profar who returns Wednesday from an 80-game PED suspension handed down four games into the season. He's expected to be in the lineup Wednesday night against the Los Angeles Angels, the first day he's eligible to return from the unpaid suspension. Advertisement Verdugo hit just .239 with 10 doubles, no homers and a .585 OPS in 56 games including 49 starts in left field, where he platooned in recent weeks with Eli White. When White filled in for two weekend games in center field in place of slumping Michael Harris II, journeyman Stuart Fairchild got the starts in left field. Braves left fielders have been the majors' worst offensively, batting a collective .207 and ranking last among 30 teams in home runs (two), RBIs (17) and OPS (.522). White and even Fairchild have better speed and defense at this point than Verdugo, 29, a nine-year veteran who signed a $1.5 million free-agent deal with the Braves in the final week of spring training. After a short stint in the minors to work himself into game condition at the start of the season, Verdugo took over in left field when Bryan De La Cruz struggled for 10 games in that role and was waived. Verdugo was initially given the opportunity to play every day and bat leadoff while Profar was suspended and Ronald Acuña Jr. was on the injured list completing a year-long rehab from knee surgery. Verdugo debuted April 18 and hit .322 with seven doubles and an .825 OPS in his first 14 games, but since then he's hit just .203 (28-for-138) with three doubles, five RBIs and a .481 OPS in 42 games, with 27 strikeouts and eight walks. After Acuña returned May 23, Verdugo was dropped in the order and lately batted seventh more than anywhere else.
