Alex Verdugo, a former Boston Red Sox outfielder, seeks a job.
Verdugo hit the open market this winter in search of a new contract, a fresh start, and employment before teams began spring training. That has yet to materialize, leaving Verdugo to wait patiently for his next opportunity after reaching the World Series — then collapsing — as a member of the New York Yankees last season.
The 28-year-old hit.208 during the playoffs, committed a few bone-headed outfield mistakes, and struck out in the final at-bat of Game 5 of the Fall Classic, securing the victory for the Los Angeles Dodgers. It was a fitting finale to Verudgo’s yet another dismal campaign, and despite everything, the eight-year veteran remains optimistic, according to the wording in his most recent social media post.
“IN DUE TIME,” Verdugo captioned a highlight video on Instagram.
Perhaps it took four months for Verdugo to assemble enough highlights from New York to create the 48-second film. Verdugo batted just.233/.291/.356 with 13 home runs and 61 RBIs in 149 games with the Yankees, indicating why the Red Sox gained a little advantage by dealing the underperforming outfielder to the Bronx. Verdugo has yet to break out as a bat, has improved little defensively, and has not matured enough for organizations to consider handing him a multi-year contract.
When Verdugo went through an 11-game slump to start August, he didn’t vow to spend more time in the hitting cages or the film room. Instead, Verdugo blamed his tattoo ink for the problem, stating that an allergic response between the pigment on his hands and the material of his batting gloves made it difficult to hit.
No, this is not a joke. That’s exactly what Verdugo asserted, and it’s a problem that’s hampered his recent seasons, including his disappointing four-year stint with the Red Sox.
“My hands hurt,” Verdugo stated in August, according to Randy Miller of NJ.com. “They get blisters. Then it opens and begins scabbing. It’s like having extremely dry skin. I’ve been dealing with this since they started barking in 2021.”
Verdugo’s 13 home runs tied a career high, while his batting average of.233 fell significantly from.264 with the Red Sox in 2023. Verdugo’s lone silver lining was being a nominee for the Gold Glove Award, which he lost to Cleveland Guardians left fielder Steven Kwan. That is it. The excitement that followed Verdugo throughout the minor levels and from Los Angeles to Boston in 2020 has not materialized.
With little motivation to bring Verdugo back in 2025, the Yankees made a few moves, including obtaining two-time All-Star outfielder Cody Bellinger from the Chicago Cubs. New York also signed 2022 National League MVP Paul Goldschmidt, leaving Verdugo in the dust, like a teenager waiting for a phone call from his high school crush.
