5 Red Sox Playing Their Last Games in Boston This Week
By Tyler Maher
3. Alex Verdugo
Speaking of trade candidates, it’s hard to imagine Verdugo coming back next year.
With Verdugo heading into his final year of arbitration, this offseason will be the perfect time to move him before he reaches free agency. He’s also coming off a solid season that saw him produce 2.9 WAR according to Baseball-Reference — his most since 2019.
Make that THREE straight games with a leadoff home run for Alex Verdugo. 💪 pic.twitter.com/3i05CidSIp
— MLB (@MLB) August 26, 2023
A decent right fielder (when he wants to be) and a solid hitter, Verdugo is a nice complementary piece. His time in Boston has likely run its course, however, as he’s repeatedly clashed with manager Alex Cora over the years. With Cora expected to be back as manager in 2024, he’ll likely ask his new boss to move on from Verdugo.
Verdugo was the main return in Bloom’s disastrous Mookie Betts trade, so the odds were always stacked against him in Boston. He needs a change of scenery and probably a new manager as well, so expect the new GM to ship out Cora this winter while he still has some trade value.