Report: No team has offered Alex Verdugo a contract in 2025 offseason

Report: No team has offered Alex Verdugo a contract in 2025 offseason

We are nearly one week away from the start of the 2025 MLB season. There aren’t many prominent names on the market, but that is, is free agent outfielder Alex Verdugo.

in fact, Verdugo, who played 149 games for the reigning American League champions, has yet to receive a single offer from an MLB team this offseason, according to Brendan Kuty of the Athletic.

“A league source told The Athletic that the 28-year-old hasn’t received a single major-league offer since becoming a free agent,” Kuty wrote. “Verdugo is one of two players who started every game in the World Series last year for the Yankees who remain unsigned. First baseman Anthony Rizzo told The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal that he still wants to play in 2025, but that he doesn’t want to accept what he believes would be a below-market deal.”

Verdugo was a mainstay in the Yankees lineup last season because of his above-average defense in left field despite being below-average at the plate.

Last season, in his only season with the Yankees, he slashed .233/.291/.356 with 13 home runs, tying a career-high, plus 61 RBIs and 28 doubles. He didn’t strike out at a high rate. Though getting on-base less than 30 percent of time was a clear red flag–as was his wRC+, which has declined in each of the last five seasons after sporting a 125 wRC+ in a COVID-shortened 2020 season with Boston.

He’s finished with at least seven defensive runs saved in four of his last six MLB seasons in the outfield, according to FanGraphs. He’s played his best in left field, where he’s logged at least six DRS in four of the last five seasons he’s logged at least one appearance out there.

Chris Cotillo of MassLive reported in early January that he was receiving interest from the Pittsburgh Pirates, New York Mets and Toronto Blue Jays, who eventually pivoted to Anthony Santander. He was also lobbying interest from the Los Angeles Angels. But no offer at this stage of the offseason is somewhat shocking.

Anthony Santander admits Orioles had ‘zero chance’ at re-signing him with their offer

Perhaps he will have to swallow his pride and sign a minor league deal with one of the 30 teams. Beginning in Triple-A isn’t ideal, but perhaps it’s the only option to crack an MLB roster at this point.

***

Click Here for more MLB Content

Subscribe to Vendetta’s Twitch

Subscribe to Vendetta’s YouTube

Check out Vendetta Fantasy Contests