Ex-Red Sox slugger has zero MLB offers; MVP teammate left puzzled (report)

Former Boston Pink Sox outfielder Alex Verdugo is an eight-year MLB veteran within the prime of his profession. That’s why it’s slightly stunning to listen to he reportedly has zero main league provides as a free agent this yr.

Verdugo, who performed for the New York Yankees final season, stays a free agent whilst groups are within the thick of their spring coaching camp. According to The Athletic the outfielder “hasn’t received a single major-league offer.”

It’s a puzzling development for Verdugo’s former teammates in New York, including two-time AL MVP Aaron Judge.

“I am surprised,” Choose mentioned to The Athletic. “He’s such a great player. He brings so much value and versatility to a team.”

Verdugo is in a weird spot career-wise. He’s been terrific at points. In 2020, he hit .308 with a .844 OPS and received some MVP votes at the end of his first season in Boston.

However, Verdugo is coming off an off year with the Yankees in which he hit .233 with a .647 OPS. Verdugo’s career marks sit at a .272 batting average with a .742 OPS. However, his offensive numbers have steadily trended downward in recent seasons.

Even so, his old team is surprised at his lack of traction on the free-agent market.

“Maybe a little bit surprised because he’s without question a big-league player and a big-league starting player, for me,” manager Aaron Boone said. “It just probably hasn’t lined up money-wise and team-wise and need-wise, but he was great with us.”

Verdugo still has supporters in New York — but apparently not enough support to make the Yankees bring him back.

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