The majority of the 62 remaining unsigned MLB free agents have one thing in common: age. In baseball terms, they’re considered older. For instance, reliever David Robertson will turn 40 in April, slugger J.D. Martinez is 37, first baseman Anthony Rizzo is 35, and bullpen arm Joe Kelly is 36. Among those 62 free agents, only five are under 34 years old, and two of them are 31.
At the center of this age-related dilemma is Alex Verdugo, a surprising case. At 28 years old, the former New York Yankees outfielder—who struck out to end the 2024 World Series—remains the youngest unsigned free agent.
It’s an unexpected drop for a six-year veteran who was once the Los Angeles Dodgers’ No. 1 prospect in 2019. Despite a career OPS of .742 (OPS+ of 101), Verdugo is still a useful outfielder in his prime, but his future remains uncertain.
Alex VerdugoDespite his abilities, Verdugo has struggled to attract interest. MLB insider Ken Rosenthal speculated on his “Fair Territory” podcast that Verdugo’s “different” personality could be a factor. While he’s well-liked by teammates, Rosenthal suggested that his sometimes controversial attitude may have caused issues with some teams, including the Yankees. Verdugo’s relationship with his previous managers has been rocky at times. In 2023, Red Sox manager Alex Cora benched him twice, once for failing to hustle and again for tardiness.
Verdugo’s time with the Yankees in 2024 wasn’t without controversy either. After failing to run out a ground ball, manager Aaron Boone defended him, citing Verdugo’s injury struggles but also acknowledging his potential.
The mystery deepened when Jon Heyman of the New York Post reported that earlier in the offseason, the Pittsburgh Pirates showed interest in signing Verdugo, offering around $8 million. However, with the Pirates now having signed veteran Tommy Pham for the role, it seems that offer may no longer be on the table—or might never have been formally made.
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