{"id":93446,"date":"2025-01-07T14:47:44","date_gmt":"2025-01-07T19:47:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/?p=93446"},"modified":"2025-01-07T14:47:44","modified_gmt":"2025-01-07T19:47:44","slug":"pirates-alex-verdugo-possible-outfielder","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2025\/01\/07\/pirates-alex-verdugo-possible-outfielder\/","title":{"rendered":"Pirates Search for Outfielder Might Lead to Former Yankee"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The Pittsburgh Pirates are said to be interested in <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2024\/11\/14\/alex-verdugo-free-agent-profile\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">outfielder<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/search\/search.fcgi?pid=verdual01,verdug001ale&amp;search=Alex+Verdugo&amp;utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2025-01-07_br\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Alex Verdugo<\/a>. Robert Murray of FanSided more specifically indicated that Verdugo is on the Pirates&#8217; radar. Verdugo, 29, is coming off a down season with the Yankees &#8211; his lone season in New York &#8211; as he batted a disappointing .233\/.291\/.356. Verdugo would likely have an everyday role in right field if he joins the Pirates.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"MLB Rumors: Alex Bregman Landing Spots, Anthony Santander\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/RFHrXSSeFeQ?list=PLH2VVIejGBMwIhtffnQ-esGJ-T1eAfQGn\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h2>Pirates Interested in Alex Verdugo<\/h2>\n<p>Except for a <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2024\/12\/11\/pirates-guardians-ortiz-horwitz-trade\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">trade<\/a> for first baseman <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/h\/horwisp01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2025-01-07_br\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Spencer Horwitz<\/a> and another <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2024\/12\/23\/andrew-mcutchen-signs-pittsburgh-pirates\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">one-year deal<\/a> for franchise icon <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/m\/mccutan01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2025-01-07_br\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Andrew McCutchen<\/a>, general manager Ben Cherington has yet to add to a major league roster that was deficient offensively in 2024. The <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2025\/01\/06\/pirates-trade-rumor-wish-list\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">rumor mill has been largely silent<\/a> this offseason where the Pirates are concerned. This latest news is unlikely to appease an impatient fan base.<\/p>\n<p>In an eight-year career that began with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Verdugo, 28, has hit .272\/.328\/.414, 70 home runs, 316 RBI, and a 101 OPS+ that puts him just slightly above the major-league average. Last season, <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2024\/09\/26\/yankees-starting-left-field-problem-postseason\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">his only season with the Yankees<\/a>, the left-handed hitter had the worst year of his career, hitting .233\/.291\/.356, 13 home runs, 61 RBI, and an OPS+ of just 83.<\/p>\n<p>Verdugo is a strong defensive outfielder with a rifle arm. For his career, he owns a 10 Fielding Runs Above Average and 31 Defensive Runs Saved. He led the American League with 12 outfield assists in 2023. His .996 fielding average in left field led the AL in 2024.<\/p>\n<h3>Why This Would Work<\/h3>\n<p>There\u2019s much to suggest that Verdugo is due for a bounce-back year. He was once considered good enough to be the key figure in a trade for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/b\/bettsmo01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2025-01-07_br\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Mookie Betts<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/search\/search.fcgi?pid=priceda01,price-006dav&amp;search=David+Price&amp;utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2025-01-07_br\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">David Price<\/a>. Before experiencing a drop in his production in 2023, from 2019-22 he hit .289\/.343\/.435. If the home run production is lacking, he\u2019s been a doubles machine. He\u2019s hit 180 doubles in his career, a 162-game average of 36 per year, with his high being 39 in 2022. PNC Park\u2019s short right field provides a clear advantage to a left-handed batter.<\/p>\n<p>His strikeout ratio is a mere 15.1 percent, well below the 22.6 percent major league average over his career. That would be a welcome sight on a team that struck out far too often in 2024. Furthermore, as a well-above-average defensive outfielder, Verdugo would give the Pirates an element they lacked in right field last season.<\/p>\n<p>Leaving the pressure cooker of Yankee Stadium for the more relaxed atmosphere of PNC Park might help Verdugo with his game, too. It worked with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/b\/burnea.01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2025-01-07_br\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">A.J. Burnett<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/c\/cervefr01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2025-01-07_br\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Francisco Cervelli<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/s\/santade01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2025-01-07_br\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Dennis Santana<\/a>, all former Yankees whose performance as a Pirate excelled over what they did in New York. Like all fans of perennial losing teams, Pirates fans are an impatient bunch. But they\u2019re also fair when they see a player is putting out a good effort.<\/p>\n<h3>Why This Won&#8217;t Work<\/h3>\n<p>Verdugo is a solid major leaguer, but there\u2019s a difference between being a solid major leaguer and being the major leaguer the Pirates need right now. He\u2019s hit 13 home runs for two consecutive years, as did <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/t\/tellero01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2025-01-07_br\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Rowdy Tellez<\/a>. Those 13-homer seasons match a career high for Verdugo. He may be a bounce-back candidate, but what\u2019s he bouncing back to? That type of production got Tellez <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2024\/11\/10\/pirates-rowdy-tellez-job-search\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">released<\/a> last year.<\/p>\n<p>Verdugo\u2019s 2024 stat line isn\u2019t even an improvement over Tellez\u2019s .243\/.299\/.392 as a Pirate. Nor is it better than <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/d\/delacbr01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2025-01-07_br\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Bryan De La Cruz<\/a>\u2019s overall 2024 stat line of .233\/.271\/.384, 21 HR, and 68 RBI. The Pirates chose to <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2024\/12\/01\/de-la-cruz-hits-open-market\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">non-tender<\/a> De La Cruz rather than pay a projected $4 million in arbitration. Verdugo made $8.7 million last year.<\/p>\n<p>While Verdugo\u2019s stats from 2019-22 indicate the presence of solid hitting ability, he\u2019s now two years removed from that stretch. He\u2019s more of a gamble than a sure thing at this stage. In their quest to find an outfielder who will move the needle in 2025, the Pirates should shoot higher than Verdugo.<\/p>\n<h3>The Last Word<\/h3>\n<p>It\u2019s no surprise that Cherington is eyeing a former Red Sox player. As a former executive with the Bosox and Toronto Blue Jays, it seems he <a href=\"https:\/\/throughthefencebaseball.com\/pirates-toronto-connection-paying-dividends\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">prefers dealing<\/a> with those teams, especially if they\u2019re peddling players with whom he was familiar. One can\u2019t help but think of former manager <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/t\/tracyji01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2025-01-07_br\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Jim Tracy<\/a>, whose Pirates tenure was a failure, due largely to his obsession with trying to duplicate the Dodgers teams he\u2019d managed.<\/p>\n<p>Last season, Cherington and owner Bob Nutting stated that 2024 was the year they expected to contend. No such edict has been laid down for 2025. However, if this is a make-or-break year for Cherington, it\u2019s clear that if he\u2019s going down, he\u2019s going down with former Red Sox and Blue Jays.<\/p>\n<p>Main Photo: \u00a9 Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Pittsburgh Pirates are said to be interested in outfielder Alex Verdugo. Robert Murray of FanSided more specifically indicated that Verdugo is on the Pirates&#8217; radar. Verdugo, 29, is coming off a down season with the Yankees &#8211; his lone season in New York &#8211; as he batted a disappointing .233\/.291\/.356. Verdugo would likely have [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5010,"featured_media":93461,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[26,1071],"tags":[900,610,3215,5150,374,4790,2095,250,203,28345],"class_list":["post-93446","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-pirates","category-mlb","tag-alex-verdugo","tag-andrew-mccutchen","tag-ben-cherington","tag-bryan-de-la-cruz","tag-david-price","tag-dennis-santana","tag-francisco-cervelli","tag-mookie-betts","tag-rowdy-tellez","tag-spencer-horwitz"],"modified_by":"Matt Graves","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/93446","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5010"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=93446"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/93446\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":93462,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/93446\/revisions\/93462"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/93461"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=93446"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=93446"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=93446"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}