Once heralded as a cornerstone of the Los Angeles Dodgers’ future, Alex Verdugo’s fall from grace has been nothing short of staggering. The 29-year-old outfielder, who just a few years ago was a key piece in a blockbuster trade for an MVP, now finds himself without a team, his career teetering on the edge of oblivion. From a $9.2 million contract with the New York Yankees to being outright released by the Atlanta Braves, Verdugo’s journey through the 2025 offseason and season has sent shockwaves through Major League Baseball.
A Promising Star Fades
Verdugo’s story began with promise. As the Dodgers’ top prospect, he was the centerpiece of the 2020 trade that sent Mookie Betts, the 2018 American League MVP, to Los Angeles. Verdugo landed with the Boston Red Sox and initially thrived, playing a pivotal role in their unexpected 2021 playoff run to the AL Championship Series. His blend of contact hitting, defensive versatility, and youthful energy suggested a bright future.
But the shine quickly wore off. Verdugo’s performance dipped, and tensions flared with Red Sox manager Alex Cora, who repeatedly benched him for what he called a lack of hustle. By 2023, Boston had seen enough, trading their former prize to their arch-rivals, the New York Yankees, for Verdugo’s final year of arbitration eligibility. The Yankees inked him to a $9.2 million deal, hoping he could rediscover his spark in the Bronx.
A Disappointing Stint in Pinstripes
Instead, Verdugo’s 2024 season with the Yankees was a disaster. He posted a career-worst .647 OPS, a far cry from the dynamic player once touted as a future star. Accusations of lackluster effort followed him, though Yankees manager Aaron Boone publicly stood by his outfielder. Behind closed doors, however, the organization’s feelings were clear: when Verdugo hit free agency, the Yankees didn’t even bother with a courtesy offer to bring him back.
With no suitors in sight as the 2025 season loomed, Verdugo’s market value plummeted. It wasn’t until a week before Opening Day that the Atlanta Braves threw him a lifeline—a one-year, $1.5 million deal, a humbling drop from his previous earnings. Even then, the Braves required him to start the season in the minors, a stark reminder of how far he’d fallen.
A Brief Chance in Atlanta Ends in Failure
Verdugo’s opportunity with the Braves arrived sooner than expected. When Jurickson Profar, Atlanta’s splashy offseason signing with a three-year, $42 million contract, was hit with an 80-game suspension for alleged performance-enhancing drug use, Verdugo was called up on April 18. It was a golden chance to prove his worth. Instead, he flopped spectacularly.
In 56 games and 213 plate appearances, Verdugo managed just 47 hits, with only 10 for extra bases and not a single home run. His lack of production was glaring, and when Profar returned from suspension, the Braves wasted no time. On Tuesday, they designated Verdugo for assignment. By Saturday, he cleared waivers unclaimed by any of the other 29 MLB teams, and Atlanta cut him loose entirely. The former top prospect was now, in the words of one insider, a “homeless outcast” in the baseball world.
Despite his precipitous decline, some still believe in Verdugo’s potential. MLB insider Jon Heyman of the New York Post suggests the San Diego Padres, in need of a left fielder, could be his next stop. “He still should get more chances,” Heyman wrote in his Friday column, though he noted Verdugo may regret not jumping on a reported $8 million offer from the Pittsburgh Pirates this past offseason—an offer that was never formalized but would have been a lifeline.
Verdugo’s story is a cautionary tale of talent squandered by inconsistency and controversy. At 29, he’s young enough to turn things around, but the clock is ticking. Will he find redemption in San Diego or elsewhere? Or will his once-promising career fade into obscurity? For now, the baseball world watches in stunned disbelief as a former star navigates an uncertain future.