MLB Rumors: Alex Verdugo Made Brutal Judgment Call After Yankees Exit
Alex Verdugo apparently cost himself a nice chunk of change this MLB offseason.
Verdugo was not poised to break the bank in free agency after a down season with the New York Yankees. But as a 28-year-old with defensive versatility and appealing offensive skills, Verdugo was expected to have a decent market upon leaving the Bronx.
That proved not to be the case. The 2014 second-round pick lingered in free agency for over four months and ultimately was forced to settle for a minor-league deal with the Atlanta Braves. But as MassLive’s Sean McAdam revealed in a column published Sunday, Verdugo had a much richer offer and better opportunity on the table earlier in the offseason.
“It would seem them Alex Verdugo is no better at judging his own market value than he is at showing up on time,” McAdam wrote. “Verdugo could have signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates for $8 million earlier this spring, but passed, only to be forced to take $1.5 million — and a stint in the minors — from the Atlanta Braves.”
To be fair, Verdugo’s situation in Atlanta has a chance to become fruitful. The money isn’t anything to write home about, but if a big league opportunity eventually becomes available, Verdugo could be on full display for a Braves team that currently has the second-shortest World Series title odds at FanDuel Sportsbook.
But given Verdugo’s recent seasons, expectations for the veteran outfielder should remain low.