4 Red Sox on the Chopping Block After Craig Breslow Hiring
4. Alex Verdugo
Turning back the clock a bit, one of Chaim Bloom's biggest gaffes towards the end of his reign was how he handled the Alex Verdugo situation.
For those needing a refresher, Verdugo had his fair share of disciplinary issues this season. He was benched twice during the 2023 campaign; once for a lack of hustle in June before showing up late to a game in August.
The most frustrating part is that the Red Sox had opportunities to move Verdugo after allegedly making him available "towards the end of July." It even got to the point where Boston was ready to do business with the rival Yankees, but a finalized deal never materialized, per beat writer Chris Henrique.
The Red Sox discussed sending outfielder Alex Verdugo to the Yankees for starting pitcher Clarke Schmidt at the trade deadline, per sources.
— Chris Henrique (@ChrisHenrique) September 14, 2023
Although he shows flashes of promise now and then, Verdugo's streaky play has left much to be desired. Playing an average of 147 games over the last three campaigns, the 27-year-old is only averaging just over 12 home runs and 63 RBIs per season. His slash numbers have also declined with each season he's spent in Beantown.
Year | Batting Average | On-Base Percentage | Slugging Percentage |
|---|---|---|---|
2020 | .308 | .367 | .478 |
2021 | .289 | .351 | .426 |
2022 | .280 | .328 | .405 |
2023 | .264 | .324 | .421 |
If Verdugo's decline continues and his disciplinary issues can't be fixed, what's the point of keeping him around? Breslow might not even want to work on the veteran infielder given that he inherited the complicated situation.
At the end of the day, it's clear that a fresh start is needed for both sides. Verdugo might be capable of reversing his fortunes, but a fresh start with a team that didn't bench him could be the best option. I'm also sure the Red Sox could get something back for a player who's above average in the batter's box and in the infield.
If Boston wants to start the new era off right and put the disappointing 2023 memories in the rearview, Verdugo has to go.
If you want to start your sports betting career off on the right foot, you need to join BetMGM. They're giving out $200 in bonus bets to new users who sign up through the link below and place a first wager of just $10. You'll even get your credits instantly, so no need to sweat your first bet! Just make sure to claim the offer below now before it disappears!
In other Red Sox news:
feed