With Opening Day less than three weeks away, free agent outfielder Alex Verdugo remains without a team. The former New York Yankee seems unbothered by his situation, recently posting a highlight reel on Instagram with the captions “IN DUE TIME.” But as spring training continues, it raises a question: Why hasn’t Verdugo signed yet?
Verdugo, 28, is coming off a disappointing 2024 season in which he slashed .233/.291/.356 with a career-worst .647 OPS. His offensive struggles were particularly noticeable in the second half—after posting a respectable .757 OPS through mid-June, he cratered to a .205 average with a .554 OPS over his final 80 games. Despite his struggles at the plate, Verdugo continued to provide above-average defense, earning a +7 defensive runs saved (DRS) mark.
A reunion with the Yankees has not been in the cards since the Bronx Bombers signed Cody Bellinger and are going to give Jasson Dominguez starting reps in left field after opting for Verdugo last year, as reported by Matt Ehalt of the New York Post.
Alex Verdugo Remains Unsigned as Opening Day Nears
The slow market for Verdugo likely comes down to a mix of factors. Teams may see him as more of a fourth outfielder rather than an everyday starter, while Verdugo may still be holding out for a deal that matches his perceived value. His career 101 OPS+ suggests he has been only slightly above league average at the plate, and with an already slow-moving free-agent market for position players, teams aren’t rushing to lock him in.
The Yankees, though, kept giving Verdugo chance after chance, and he started all 14 postseason games, batting .208 (10-for-48) and striking out to end Game 5 of the World Series.
It’s certainly possible that Verdugo could land with a team as spring training progresses and injuries or underperformance force clubs to act. He’s been linked to the New York Mets, Toronto Blue Jays, Houston Astros, Los Angeles Angels and Pittsburgh Pirates this offseason. However, those teams either no longer have interest or aren’t willing to meet his asking price.
Main Photo: © Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images
