It could be upward and onward for former Boston Red Sox outfielder Alex Verdugo. The 29-year-old free agent “could fit” with the San Diego Padres, who are looking for a left fielder, according to the New York Post’s Jon Heyman.
The Padres (47-40) are in second place in the National League West, eight games behind the first-place Los Angeles Dodgers. San Diego currently holds the third NL wild card.
On Wednesday, the Atlanta Braves designated Verdugo for assignment to clear a roster spot for outfielder Jurickson Profar, who returned from 80-game suspension for performance-enhancing drugs. The struggling Braves (39-48) are in fourth place in the NL East, 11 1/12 game behind the first-place Philadelphia Phillies. Atlanta is eight games back in the NL Wild Card standings.
The Braves signed Verdugo to a one-year, $1.5 million deal on March 20 following a disappointing 2024 campaign with the New York Yankees. He batted just .233 and slashed .291/.356/.647 with 13 home runs, 61 RBI and 0.8 WAR in his lone season in the Bronx.
Verdugo debuted for the Braves on April 18 and got off to a fast start, batting .322 through his first 14 games of the season. But it went downhill quickly for the outfielder, who hit .203 with no homers and five RBI during the last 43 games.
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The Red Sox acquired Verdugo from the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 2020 blockbuster Mookie Betts trade. Verdugo hit .281 with 43 home runs and 206 RBIs in 493 games with Boston.
In the COVID-shortened 2020 season, Verdugo finished 12th in voting for American League MVP. That year, he batted a career-best .308 while setting personal highs in on-base percentage (.367), slugging percentage (.478) and OPS (.844).
Featured image via Jordan Godfree/Imagn Images
