Red Sox Buzz: Alex Verdugo’s contract year of extended value
With Spring Training here, it’s time for the Boston Red Sox to get prepared for the 2023 season.
Of course, there are questions about this team. Who will be the leader of the clubhouse? What will the pitching as a whole look like? Will the offense actually show up?
What nobody is talking about is how outfielder Alex Verdugo is coming up on a contract year with the Red Sox.
Red Sox fans have had nightmares recently about players wanting to stay in Boston for the longevity of their careers. Minus the exception of Rafael Devers of course!
But it looks like Verdugo wants to stay as several reports said that he asked Red Sox ownership for an extension.
Now, how do we feel about Alex Verdugo potentially being here for the long-term? Let’s explore it a bit.
Boston Red Sox having a solid player in Alex Verdugo locked up
One positive about potentially having Verdugo in Boston beyond 2023 is that he’s a solid player.
At the plate, he’s not going to be a huge power bat for you. But he did hit for a .280 average and knocked in 74 runs last season. So you know the potential is there for a breakout season at the plate!
In the field, he holds a .980 fielding percentage. He made 5 errors last season, but it’s not like he’s a minus defender in the outfield. The arm is very average, so that’s why he’ll stick to the corner outfield spots.
Plus, Adam Duvall is only here on a one year deal. This means the only true outfielder that is locked in beyond 2023 is Masataka Yoshida.
So wouldn’t it make sense to have a good player in Verdugo for a couple more seasons?
Boston Red Sox being smart with the contract of Alex Verdugo
The beauty of a potential Alex Verdugo extension with the Red Sox is that it won’t break the bank.
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We’re not talking about having to give a contract out that is similar to a Devers, or an Aaron Judge, or Shohei Ohtani, or any of the other stars.
You could realistically give the left handed hitting Verdugo a five year deal for anywhere between 10-12 million dollars a year. But the Red Sox have to be careful here.
If “Dugie” asks for anything north of the $15 million per year line, I wouldn’t touch it. But anything in that 10-12 range, do that deal in a second!
The bottom line with Alex Verdugo and the Boston Red Sox
Alex Verdugo is a solid player that won’t be require a record breaking contract to keep him. Plus, he WANTS to be here.
Next. Red Sox starters have abundance of questions. dark
The Red Sox have struck out on many players that said they want to be here. But the difference this time is that they don’t have to give the player a blank check to convince him to stay.
It’s a good sign that a player wants to stay in Boston. So get him extended at the right price, continue to develop the young players, and get yourself back into contention!