The Mets, Astros, Blue Jays and Angels are among the teams that have signed up a free agent outfielder Alex Verdugo this offseason, MassLive’s Chris Cotillo reports. FanSided’s Robert Murray reported earlier this week that the Pirates were also interested in the left-handed outfielder.
Verdugo is looking to bounce back after a disappointing year in the Bronx. He hit just .233/.291/.356 in 621 plate appearances as a Yankee. Most of the positives came in the first few weeks of the season. Verdugo hit .267/.358/.446 through the end of April. He hit .225/.275/.336 in more than 500 trips to the plate the rest of the way. He continued to struggle in the postseason, hitting .208/.303/.313 with one homer in 14 games.
Advertisements
It certainly wasn’t the ideal time for the worst year of Verdugo’s career. Before that he had been a capable starter for a few seasons in Boston. Verdugo had a slash line of .281/.338/.424 in parts of four seasons as a member of the Red Sox. While he never became the All-Star caliber player some evaluators expected, he was a solid regular.
Verdugo will turn 29 in May. He is probably available on a one-year contract. He will presumably be looking for a deal that is not far from the $10 million that Maximus Kepler received from the Phillies last month. That makes him an option for a low-salary team like the Pirates. He could fit any club looking for help in left-handed fielding.
This is a specific need for the Astros. General manager Dana Brown acknowledged they would like a left-handed outfielder after the Kyle Tucker trade. Houston doesn’t have an obvious answer in left field, which they rely on Chas McCormick to recover in the right field. Verdugo is one of the simplest targets. The Astros project a few million dollars above the luxury tax threshold. It would be difficult to get back below the tax line unless they trade Ryan Pressley and limit spending for the remainder of the off-season.
The Angels have Taylor Ward as expected starter in left field. His name has been thrown around in trade speculation, though with no indication that the Halos are actively shopping him. Even if they kept Ward, they would benefit from an upgrade over the Jo Adell/Mickey Moniak coupling in the opposite corner.
Advertisements
It’s very likely that Toronto will add an everyday winger in the coming weeks. They will probably take a bigger swing than Verdugo. The Jays were one of the top contenders Antonio Santanderto whom they would make an offer. The Mets might be the toughest fit. It is obvious that Verdugo will prioritize a team that can allow him to play every day. New York yes Juan Soto AND Brandon Nimmo in the external corners, while Tyrone Taylor AND Jose Siri they are center field options. Starling Mars remains available as a deep winger.
Advertisements