Alex Verdugo Fantasy Stats

The San Diego Padres agreed to a minor-league deal with free-agent outfielder Alex Verdugo on Sunday, according to Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune. Verdugo appeared in only 56 games with the Atlanta Braves last year and was eventually designated for assignment over the summer after hitting just .239/.296/.289 with no homers, 12 RBI, and 21 runs scored in 213 plate appearances. The nine-year veteran is getting a late start in spring training and won't be guaranteed to make the Padres' Opening Day roster. If Verdugo did make the big-league squad out of camp, he'd most likely be a platoon option from the left side of the plate in a corner-outfield spot or at designated hitter. Most likely, Verdugo will offer the Padres some outfield depth at Triple-A El Paso to begin the 2026 regular season. In 149 games with the Yankees in 2024, Verdugo held a .233/.291/.356 slash line with 13 homers and 61 RBI in 621 plate appearances.

The Atlanta Braves have released veteran outfielder Alex Verdugo, David O'Brien of The Athletic reports. Verdugo cleared waivers after the Braves designated him for assignment on Wednesday. After spending the winter on the open market, Verdugo joined the Braves on a one-year, $1.5 million contract in late March. It didn't work out, as Verdugo slumped to a .239/.296/.289 line in 213 homer-less plate appearances with Atlanta. The 29-year-old previously spent time with the Dodgers, Red Sox, and Yankees. He has batted a respectable .270/.326/.406 with 70 homers in 3,393 trips to the plate in the bigs.

The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal reports that the Atlanta Braves have designated outfielder Alex Verdugo for assignment. Rosenthal notes that the move clears a spot for the return of Jurickson Profar, who is returning from an 80-game suspension for the use of performance-enhancing drugs. The 29-year-old appeared in 56 games for the squad this season and hit an unappealing .239 with ten extra-base hits (no homers). Verdugo significantly underperformed his expected batting average (.273), but Atlanta has no room for him now that Profar has served his suspension. The Braves will likely release him, though that isn't a foregone conclusion.

Atlanta Braves manager Brian Snitker said he would start Eli White in left field against left-handed pitchers, while Alex Verdugo will be in left field against right-handers, as he was for all three games against the San Diego Padres over the weekend. White has hit .291 with nine extra-base hits and an .814 OPS in 87 plate appearances against right-handers. Verdugo has hit .309 with eight extra-base hits and a .760 OPS in 100 plate appearances against right-handers. But White hits from the right side and Verdugo hits from the left side, so the Braves will go with a straight platoon in left field, at least for the time being. "Honestly, I'm not going to rule out anything," Snitker said. "But my plan when we got Ronald (back) was, it's gonna obviously push Eli off of right field. And I think I felt like we'd have kind of a good right-left option in left."

Atlanta Braves outfielder Alex Verdugo went 2-for-3 with a pair of doubles, a walk, and a stolen base in the Braves' 4-0 win over the Reds on Monday night. Verdugo is up to .322 in his 14 games with the Braves and has a .367 wOBA with seven doubles, seven RBI, nine runs scored, and six walks. He has taken over as the team's regular leadoff hitter and has hit safely in 11 of his last 13 games. He should continue to serve as the primary spark plug at the top of the order for Atlanta until Ronald Acuna Jr. is fully recovered from his knee injury suffered last season. Verdugo has been a huge addition for Atlanta and can help your fantasy team if you need on-base production and runs scored for the next few weeks.

Atlanta Braves outfielder Alex Verdugo will make his season debut on Friday night hitting leadoff against Chris Paddack and the Minnesota Twins. Verdugo was recently called up from Triple-A Gwinnett where he hit for a .751 OPS in 33 PA. The lefty will look to bounce back after having a subpar season for the Yankees in 2024, hitting for just an 83 OPS+. The Braves need all the help they can get in their lineup, which has been underwhelming by their standards and has led to just a 5-13 record. Both lefties and righties have been hitting Paddack well this season, giving Verdugo intriguing opportunity in DFS leagues. Fantasy managers needing outfield help in deeper leagues may want to snag Verdugo off their waiver wire as well.

The Atlanta Braves have recalled outfielder Alex Verdugo from Triple-A Gwinnett. In a corresponding move, the Braves have optioned outfielder Bryan De La Cruz to Triple-A. The Braves inked Verdugo to a minor-league contract earlier in the spring, and he will now make his Atlanta debut. During the first nine games of the Triple-A regular season, Verdugo held a .207/.303/.448 slash line with two long balls. Verdugo had a disappointing campaign in the Bronx last season as he held a .233/.291/.356 line with 13 long balls, which was a stark decline from the .264/.323/.431 line he held during the 2023 campaign. De La Cruz tallied just one extra-base hit during the first 16 games of the MLB season and will look to turn the corner at Triple-A. Verdugo should see ample opportunities in the starting nine with Ronald Acuna Jr. (knee) still sidelined.

The Athletic's David O'Brien writes that all signs point to outfielder Alex Verdugo joining the Atlanta Braves this week after signing a one-year, $1.5 million deal with the team on March 20. Verdugo hit a three-run homer at Triple-A Gwinnett on Sunday and was pulled two innings later, fueling speculation that he'll join the team for their series opener in Toronto against the Blue Jays on Monday. A team official said that the 28-year-old was scheduled for a light day on Sunday, though, after he played all 14 innings of a doubleheader on Saturday. If he doesn't join the Braves in Toronto, Verdugo will likely be with them against the Minnesota Twins this weekend. After missing most of spring training, Verdugo has hit .182 (4-for-22) with a double, two homers, four RBI and a .700 OPS with Gwinnett. When he joins Atlanta, he could see regular playing time with both Jarred Kelenic and Bryan De La Cruz struggling.

The Atlanta Braves have signed outfielder Alex Verdugo to a one-year contract worth $1.5 million. Verdugo has been linked to several suitors throughout camp. Fantasy managers should expect Verdugo to have a depth role in the Atlanta outfield. Last season, the 28-year-old posted a .233/.291/.356 slash line across 149 contests with the New York Yankees. He showed a strong eye at the plate, holding a 15.0 percent strikeout rate, but struggled to generate offense with his bat as he posted a modest .302 xwOBA. In addition, Verdugo was an elite defender, as he placed in the 94th percentile in arm strength and 96th percentile in arm value. Fantasy managers should expect Verdugo to compete for starting opportunities in right field while Ronald Acuna Jr.'s (knee) remains sidelined. He will likely operate on the strong side of a platoon in right field alongside Bryan De La Cruz. Verdugo will likely limit the opportunities for Jarred Kelenic, who is also a left-handed bat who posted a low .231 AVG last season.

Free-agent outfielder Alex Verdugo is biding his time on the free-agent market, but time is running out for him to sign with a new team before Opening Day at the end of March. The 28-year-old could be holding out for a better offer that he feels matches his value, but it's also possible that teams just aren't that interested in him after a disappointing season in 2024 with the New York Yankees. Once a former top prospect, Verdugo had a career-worst 83 OPS+ in the Bronx after being acquired in a trade from the division-rival Boston Red Sox. He has not lived up to his prospect hype and slashed .233/.291/.356 with a career-low .647 OPS, 13 home runs and 61 RBI last year. Despite the poor season, the Yankees continued to trot him out there. He went 10-for-48 (.208) in 14 playoff games last fall. A potential reunion went out the window when the Yankees signed Cody Bellinger in free agency.