As the Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago Cubs opened the new MLB season in Japan on Tuesday, a former Boston Red Sox outfielder found himself still without a team. Alex Verdugo, whose time with the New York Yankees ended after a disappointing World Series run, remains unsigned as the 2025 season gets underway.
The Yankees opted not to re-sign the 28-year-old, choosing instead to give their top prospect, Jasson Domínguez, a chance to secure a roster spot. While Verdugo has proven to be a serviceable outfielder over his eight-year career, his skills haven’t been enough to attract major-league offers this offseason. According to The Athletic’s Brendan Kuty, Verdugo “hasn’t received a single major-league offer since becoming a free agent.”
Last season, Verdugo earned $8.7 million, and while he may have received minor-league offers, those likely didn’t align with his expectations. Yankees manager Aaron Boone expressed surprise at Verdugo’s situation, telling Kuty, “Maybe a little bit surprised because he’s without question a big-league player and a big-league starting player, for me. It just probably hasn’t lined up money-wise and team-wise and need-wise, but he was great with us.”
Yankees superstar Aaron Judge echoed Boone’s sentiments, but as the saying goes, beggars can’t be choosers. With Opening Day in North America approaching, it seems Verdugo will be watching from home, waiting for the right opportunity to return to the field.
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