With fewer than three weeks until Opening Day, Alex Verdugo remains unsigned. The former Dodgers, Red Sox and Yankees outfielder stands as one of the higher-profile names who’s yet to come to terms on a deal with a team for the upcoming season. He’s been tied to each of the Astros, Pirates and Angels over the course of the offseason, although the former two clubs have since signed different corner outfielders. Pittsburgh inked Tommy Pham on a one-year, $4.25MM deal. Houston brought Ben Gamel back on a one-year, $1.2MM deal (though reportedly, only Gamel’s $200K signing bonus is guaranteed on that deal).
It’s not fully clear what type of situation Verdugo has been seeking. The 29-year-old is presumably looking for a big league deal, even on the heels of a down year and in the waning stages of the offseason, but preferences regarding asking price, location, etc. remain unclear. Jon Heyman of the New York Post offers some context, however, reporting that prior to signing Pham, the Pirates “floated” the idea of signing Verdugo for “around $8MM.”
It bears emphasizing that there’s no indication an $8MM offer was ever formally presented to Verdugo. Heyman’s report also doesn’t specify the timing of that “floated” proposal. If it was early enough in the offseason, perhaps Verdugo felt he had sufficient interest to eclipse that mark or at least other clubs showing interest at a similar rate.
It seems clear now that the opportunity in Pittsburgh has passed, with Pham in the fold there. The Bucs have Pham, Oneil Cruz and Bryan Reynolds lined up for outfield work. Pham could always be pushed to a bench role, but he suggested early in camp that one of the reasons he chose to sign with the Pirates over other suitors was a greater opportunity for at-bats. It seems as though the Pirates communicated to Pham that he’d have the chance for plenty of playing time. Plus, with Pittsburgh’s payroll at $88MM — a bottom-of-the-barrel mark relative to the rest of the league but right in line with last year’s level for the Buccos — ownership may not be comfortable putting any more dollars into the team.
At this point in the offseason, it’s difficult to imagine Verdugo securing $8MM. There aren’t many teams with a clear need for a corner outfielder, and many of the potential suitors have minimal budget space. One of the reasons the Astros signed Gamel is that owner Jim Crane is loath to exceed the luxury tax for a second straight season. Gamel came at a bargain rate. Houston is less than $5MM from the CBT threshold, per RosterResource. The Royals have been seeking outfield additional bats, but their projected $132MM Opening Day payroll is the second-highest in franchise history and is already nearly $20MM north of last year’s mark.
At this point, it might take a spring injury to an established big league outfielder to spur a team to make a compelling offer to Verdugo. The Guardians (top prospect Chase DeLauter) and Tigers (Parker Meadows, Matt Vierling) both have injuries in their outfield mix, but there’s no indication either would consider a run at Verdugo. The Yankees increasingly seem unlikely to have Giancarlo Stanton for the early portion of the season, but they still have a full outfield (Jasson Dominguez, Cody Bellinger, Aaron Judge, Trent Grisham) and seem to be near owner Hal Steinbrenner’s spending limit. The Rangers have had some injuries (Wyatt Langford, Adolis Garcia), but they’re short-term in nature and Texas is in a similar position to Houston with regard to the luxury tax.
Verdugo took to Instagram earlier this week to post a highlight reel with the caption “in due time” — a fitting descriptor of where things seem to stand. An opportunity will present itself eventually, but for now, it seems the 28-year-old (29 in May) will have to wait things out.
He’s just not worth the headache. He’s never hit more than 13 homers, even when he’s in a stacked lineup.
Have fun in South Korea.
He should sign a minor league deal and get into camp.
Congrats
True about his overall lack of power, but there have been a huge handful of players who were and are bigger headaches than Verdugo.
He wasn’t a positive clubhouse presence, that’s why the Dodgers got rid of him
Pronk,
Interesting uninformed attack on his work ethic.
You obviously said this with zero research on your end. Try this magical tool called Google.
Verdugo is a good sign, career .270 hitter, that’s pretty good, still young, certainly can hit major league pitching, ripe for a breakout season.
Why were the A’s the only team whose name came up regarding a potential grievance to be filed by the MLBPA when other teams like the Pirates have a considerably lower payroll than they do?
Been wondering this as well.
I found this article from December with an explanation.
mlbtraderumors.com/2024/12/athletics-risk-mlbpa-gr…
Oakland attendance hasn’t been over 1 million this decade. Some 700 800 thousand years. Pirates fans come out to watch whatever garbage product is on the field at 1.5 1.7 million attendance. Had good tv deal for their market size. Pirates have one of the biggest international bonuses. Always drafting high so a big pool and they usually push the 5% over. They spend $ on development and development staff. Just don’t spend on mlb players. I promise you Bob Nuttings #1 priority is to keep getting his revenue so don’t ever have to worry about Pirates.
A lot of those fans are visiting fans. PNC Park is nice. Oakland Coliseum is a dump.
I suspect that the Marlins will be placed on notice for next season. One team at a time.
“Why the A’s the only team”…Word on the street is that the A’s gifted Rob Manfred a “Sam’s Club” membership this past Christmas. Meanwhile, some other unnamed teams gifted him a new 600 HP Porsche, Augusta Golf club membership, Knicks & Lakers season tickets and an all-expenses paid, 30 day luxury yacht vacation through ultra exclusive European ports. You draw your own conclusions.
phenom – Because the A’s received a lot more revenue sharing than other teams, and they are required to spend at least 150% of what they received.
Other teams like the Pirates and Marlins aren’t even close.
The past two years the Marlins spent $165M combined.and the Pirates spent $133M combined.
The A’s? They spent a combined $91M.
The A’s were, for a stretch of 3 years, significantly lower than anyone else in MLB. They never went above $50m total and got as low as $32m. They somehow posted a lower payroll than their 2020 season where everyone was only paid for 60 games of checks.
This was coming off a stretch where they were still consistently bottom 5 payrolls for a decade, but more or less in line with other small payroll teams. The reason for this sudden drop was that they were not allowed to collect revenue sharing as a “small market” team the way Cleveland, Pittsburgh, and Tampa were. Because their market is considered SF/San Jose/Oakland (not just Oakland), they were literally barred from that in a previous CBA. They are able to collect that now (I don’t remember why, I don’t think it’s the move but I could be wrong), but they basically had to spend to keep the union happy. The union essentially bargained to keep them out of that “small market” status originally, they want them to spend. Hence the weirdness this year.
Further, both the Marlins and Pirates had union grievances against them for not spending less than 10 years ago. So it’s not just the A’s, and they *had been* significantly lower than everyone else the previous 3 years.
Ok, thanks. It makes sense. I still think it’s a matter of time before a floor. MLBPA is not likely to ever agree to a cap, no matter how high they put it. I’d think a $100M floor and a $400M cap would make sense. They could even include deferred payments in their current years to enforce the cap.
A’s crushed the Rooker and Butler deals.
I didn’t like Verdugo when he was a Dodger.
He had a .784 ops while with the Dodgers. Plenty to like in that. LA fans, sheesh, tough crowd.
Keep in mind, this just one fan’s opinion.
Pickles – He was likely talking about Dugie’s involvement in the assault of the young girl.
…and why he’s probably not a Royal right now…a team that desperately needs his profile.
Fever, I forgot about that incident but reading up on it again truthfully I have a hard time seeing that as something to kill or hurt his career. He was 18 in ST 2015 and by his own admission he placed himself in a dicey situation, but that was the extent of it. The police and MLB cleared him of any wrongdoing.
If he were coming off a good season it wouldn’t be made too much of in my opinion.
Pickles – Back then what he did typically wasn’t treated as seriously as it would have if it occurred today.
The incident occurred in February 2015.
And when did MLB implement a domestic violence policy?
August 2015.
Not a coincidence.
Still, don’t want him on my team if I was an owner.
And Verdugo has easily slid from the Dodgers to the Red Sox to the Yankees in the intervening years without much comment because he did well enough. Also not a coincidence.
Given how MLB goes after offenders above and beyond what the law requires it seems pretty clear to me that he made a mistake about who he associated with but little beyond that. Surely a policy implemented in August would have covered an incident in March if the behavior was offensive enough.
Policy doesn’t really matter. That’s a public image issue. Same with Bauer. Same with Pete Rose, even. When the punishment doesn’t seem to fit the crime. We have to ask ourselves if we have all the imformation.
Pickles – So you’re saying he should have been disciplined retroactively for violating a policy that didn’t even exist at the time of the incident? Wow I’m speechless with that.
I agree if he was less talented he probably wouldn’t have escaped so easily, but again it was a decade ago …. times have drastically changed since then.
Nobody has accused him of committing the assault, but he was present when it happened and didn’t try to stop it or even leave. In fact he is suspected of videotaping it and posted it on Snapchat. Please don’t try to downplay his involvement just because he didn’t assault the girl.
Here’s an excerpt:
“Both players, Quiroli wrote, “did nothing to stop the [physical] assault and were apparently so entertained by the violence happening to this defenseless girl, that either … or both of them posted the video to social media.”
Asked by Minihane earlier this month about Verdugo’s involvement, Francona relayed some of his meeting with him, then 19.
“There’s kind of the story that Alex gave Gabe Kapler and myself at the time, was that he was passed out while the alleged assault was going on. The version that eventually came out in the police report was that Alex and a couple other girls that were with them that night were in … the bathroom of the hotel room. So that’s, there’s a lot of discrepancies going on,” Francona said.
Asked pointedly by Minihane whether it was Verdugo who posted the assault on Snapchat, Francona said “that was my understanding,”
“I think it was probably an episode of poor judgment on his part. My take on it at the time with, and I spent a lot of time with Alex, he was drafted right out of high school [at 18 in 2014] and was on the younger side for that, even. And had a bit of a reputation coming in as well.”
While Verdugo had decent numbers in LA, management assessed that he would be no more than a 15-20 homer guy and .275 hitter. Also, while he could cover ground in the OF, he also made some boneheaded plays throwing to the wrong base and on the bases. Like someone else in the comments said, top tier talent, bottom tier work ethic.
For whatever reasons, real, assumed, or imagined, Verdugo has played himself into a fourth outfielder role. Arguing that he won’t get an offer anywhere in MLB because he didn’t turn into the star player some thought he would is just plain silly. Fourth outfielders get contracts, too.
I don’t like any player who ever was a Dodger.
He is what he is – a platoon outfielder and there isn’t much demand for that.
His splits aren’t bad. He’s a league-average hitter, and good defensively. In any other season he’d have a contract by now. He just happened to hit the market at an unlucky time for corner outfielders. Someone will pick him during the season.
His wRC+ was 83 last year which is 17% below average. His worst season by far since his first cup of coffee in the bigs in ’17; he’s unlucky because he just so happened to hit FA after his worst season ever.
Last season didn’t help his cause obviously, but no team is going to judge him on that basis alone.
Not on last season alone but his numbers have gradually declined the last 4+ years. His trajectory is not looking good for 2025
billy09: With those credentials he sounds like White Sox material to me. If, that is, he’ll play for $1-2M this season.
It’s part of a trend. Lots of icky blue on that Statcast page…
The White Sox already have enough corner outfielders who are bereft of power. With piles of poo like Mike Tauchman, Austin Slater, and Dominic Fletcher already in the fold, there is no sensible reason to add Verdugo.
Verdugo pretty much nuked his way out of MLB. I hope he enjoys Korea, Japan or Mexico…. IF they will have him.
Why wouldn’t the Angels give him a shot? Every player on the team takes turns on the DL. Verdugo will be better than bringing back Otto the Bus driver again. At least have major league ready talent available to fill in.
Don’t get down on the bus driver he is doing his best.
The MLB should let the free agents be a part of spring training as a mixed bag team so they can get playing time, practice and showcase.
And risk getting nothing if they get hurt? Not a chance that will happen.
At whose expense? MLBPA’s?
dewey – I know Boras has a practice facility, but I’m not sure if he gets reimbursed by his unsigned clients.
Fever, probably not. Likely a courtesy for when he f’s up. Players knowingly accept conflicts in that his office represents others competing for that same job. It’s a showcase for them.
he’s durable…
that’s all i got
He’s a league average player at best, which means that basically anybody worthy of major league at bats and whom can make basic defensive plays, is as worthy of, if not more worthy of a roster spot and playing time than Verdugo.
I say this as someone who *likes* Verdugo and wanted him to magically hit ..280 with 14 HR’s 80 RBI’s 2.6 WAR and someone had signed him to between like 2 years/$30M and 4 years/$60M or something in that range.
But analytics are getting brutal… that said, there are some streaky, mediocre players who seem to manage to land seven figure deals as their career limps along, while guys like Verdugo inexpelicably languish in free agency with no serious offers or clear options when he was likely expecting to be deciding between multiple deals in the 4-8 years and $55M-$130M-ish range.
I think if someone just went ahead and signed him to a major league deal of any value, he could ‘re-establish’ himself…. right? Meh.
He’s a nice fit for the Royals.
If Houston didn’t do what they did, that’s where I saw him.
Royals are averse to character issues.
The royals signed aroldis Chapman a few seasons ago
That’s true! I think my mind is slated back with Dayton Moore. Them and the Rockies really had a certain character clause. But you’re right. They signed Chapman.
Marlins, white sox, rocks… 1 year deal flip him at the deadline if hes relatively productive. Worth a flier at least for clubs like that
NWTT
Replacement level player. Seems like a good dude but being part of the mookie disaster doesn’t equate to future earnings if you don’t perform.
Who he was traded for has nearly as much relevance as what you ate for lunch last Wednesday.
Surely. But Verdugo was expected to break out. He never did. He acted like he did. That is probably costing him now.
I’m not sure I understand what any of this means.
You are not alone.
Don’t sneak up on me like that!
What does it say about Verdugo that not only has Pham already signed but had some sort of market to begin with?
Verdugo was awful for the Yankees last year, he fell apart after April/May.
Slump! Dead man walking!
He has a wet noodle for a bat.
His glove still played and a championship team doesn’t usually have all stars at every position. They have winners and that’s what AV is not.
dewey – Many teams don’t want the baggage either.
I laugh when I see Sox “fans” complaining about Chapman’s incident …. the same Sox “fans” who embraced Dugie as if he did nothing wrong.
Very hypocritical.
Fever, I have to read up on the AV incident. Many fans don’t know about it.
dewey – It’s an interesting read, and Kapler was essentially fired for his poor response to the incident. Neither he nor anyone with the Dodgers reported the incident to the police.
washingtonpost.com/sports/nationals/told-of-girls-…
Fever, for some reason, I couldn’t open the link. I found other articles. Sounds like it wasn’t like it first sounded like be because of he it someone else put the video online, it would have been found. Even in 15.
Pham still hits hard. Better leader and clubhouse guy. No allergies.
“What does it say?”…It says “Doogie” is a high maintenance, replacement level baseball player. That’s all I’ve got. I’m out.
He is a cancer on a team
Reason why Yankees only reached world series and didn’t win
If the baseball thing doesn’t work out, he can try making a living as a Halloween mask.
If the Yankees don’t want him, nobody probably does. Same goes for Rizzo.
Halo Bros did a breakdown of Rizzo and Arenado on their show today. Both players are showing regression in their stats like barrel rate and exit velocity. Wonder if Verdugo has the same “issue.”
Last year was down in some important areas
Allergies and attitude are issues
Verdugo strikes me as the type of player whose primary goal should be to secure that 10 year pension.
Im pretty confident that he is a superior player than the fantasy team haters who are trashing him here. I’m also pretty confident that he is better than a lot of bench players and some starters in the mlb right now. He will land if only because he can help a lot of mlb teams. He just needs to reduce his salary expectations.
The White Sox it is!
He’s a league average player but think about the level of play in the league. An exceptionally average/mediocre major league player is going to be good/ not great, but not bad, just good. A Good Player.
It’s a testament to his true level that he doesn’t have a deal or a clear market- because he is viewed as someone who *should* have easily been at a floor of like 3 years/$45M and a potential ceiling of like 6 years/$120M or something, not so much a guy wondering if he will ever play in the majors again if if he will be playing on split contracts, grinding every year.
2020 123 OPS+
2021 107
2022 102
2023 100
2024 83
2025 ??
It’s hard to get paid when your offense declines four straight seasons when you’re in your prime.
I agree 100% There are many bench players who should not be in the majors period.
Royals stop being cheap he won’t cost much and will start half your games
Not a useless player by any means actually decent: just not the attitude everyone wants around the team. At 29 it hits different. If you can’t get along with Alex Cora on the Sox. If you trash the Dodgers clubhouse publicly. And the Yankees have to change their “jewelry rule” starts to brand yourself a sheep of a different color no one really wants to be bothered with.
83 OPS+ in 2024.
Didn’t he have a hands allergy this past year to something?
No matter where he goes, he was a guy that was traded for Mookie Betts . Anyone know what happened to the other piece Jeter Downs?
He’s in the NPB.
Connor Wong was the third piece, and is easily the best player of the three.
You make that sound like a bad thing. Anyone who can say they were traded for Mookie Betts has bragging rights for life.
If a guy doesn’t want to even put in the required or the expected effort, no one should sign him for the most nominal let alone millions