The first eight years of Alex Verdugo’s big league career have all taken place in big markets. He debuted with the Dodgers from 2017 to 2019, spent four seasons with the Red Sox from 2020 through 2023 and has been a Yankee for the past year.
It turns out his lone season in New York — which culminated in a trip to the World Series that ended when Walker Buehler struck him out to clinch a trophy for the Dodgers in Game 5 — represented his best experience so far.
- BETTING: Check out our MA sports betting guide, where you can learn basic terminology, definitions and how to read odds for those interested in learning how to bet in Massachusetts.
“Honestly it’s been awesome,” Verdugo told reporters before Game 5 on Wednesday night. “Man, it’s been really cool. I know it wasn’t my best personal year in offense. We kind of grinded through some things.
“But as far as teammates and being with the guys, it’s been my favorite team I’ve ever played for,” he said. “I really do enjoy it. I think there would be some stuff that, you know, maybe one day we can come back, if it’s not next year, maybe it’s another year. But would like to come back and just show the type of player that I really am. I think we’ve seen it defensively, seen it at times offensively, but I’m usually a lot more consistent.”
The Red Sox, tired of Verdugo’s act after multiple clashes with manager Alex Cora last season, shipped the outfielder to the Yankees for three pitchers (Richard Fitts, Nicholas Judice and Greg Weissert) in December. Verdugo immediately became New York’s everyday left fielder in his free agent season, and despite a strong offensive start, did not position himself well for the open market.
Verdugo struggled at the plate for the majority of the season. The 28-year-old hit .233 with 13 homers, 28 doubles, 61 RBIs and a career-low .647 OPS in 149 games. In 62 games from July 7 to the end of the season, he hit just .213 with three homers, nine doubles, 16 RBIs and a .566 OPS in 257 plate appearances and eventually lost his job to rookie Jasson Domínguez in September. The Yankees went back to him for the postseason; in 13 playoff games entering Wednesday, he was 9-for-45 (.200) with a homer and seven RBIs.
From an individual perspective, 2024 was disappointing for Verdugo. But his first-ever trip to the Fall Classic made it a rewarding one.
“To have kind of one of my career worst year offensively going into (free agency) is a bummer,” Verdugo said. “Again, I’m in the World Series. I feel really blessed I’m on this team playing for a winning organization and contributing.
“It is what it is. Free agency, that will handle itself. At the end of the day, we focus on today.”
Earlier this week, The Athletic’s Jim Bowden ranked Verdugo as the 39th-best free agent on this year’s market and projected a two-year, $26 million contract for him. Bowden listed the Yankees, Twins, Athletics and Mariners as potential fits.
