The Padres signed an outfielder Alex Verdugo to a minor league contract, reports Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune. Verdugo has been a free agent since being released by the Braves last July.
Last season, Verdugo didn’t get his contract in Atlanta (a one-year deal, $1.5MM guaranteed) until just a week before Opening Day. He’ll get more time to prepare for Spring Training this year, as well as a chance to try to earn a job on San Diego’s roster as a backup outfielder.
Verdugo should also look at this as a career-changing opportunity as he enters his age-30 season. A former everyday player with the Red Sox and a key piece of the trade package Boston acquired from the Dodgers in Mookie Betts deal, Verdugo posted decent but unspectacular numbers (.281/.338/.424 with 43 home runs in 2,071 plate appearances, 105 wRC+) over five seasons in a Sox uniform.
Over the past two seasons with the Yankees and Braves, however, Verdugo’s production has dropped significantly. Since Opening Day 2024, Verdugo has a respectable 80 wRC+, while hitting .234/.292/.339 with 13 home runs over 834 PA. Each season, Verdugo got off to a hot start before faltering.
Those problems in the Bronx led to Verdugo’s extended stay in free agency last winter, and it took some injuries within the Braves’ outfield mix to allow him to land a Major League contract. Jurickson ProfarThe PED suspension came a little more than a week after Verdugo’s signing, creating the possibility of an everyday role as Atlanta’s left fielder. Verdugo voluntarily spent the first few weeks of the regular season in extended Spring training and minors to get himself in game condition, but when called up to the Show, he hit .239/.296/.289 over 213 PA.
When Profar became eligible for reinstatement, the Braves designated Verdugo for assignment and released him. No other minor league offers have surfaced for the remainder of the 2025 season, and there has been no mention of Verdugo in offseason rumors until today’s signing. However, the Padres have apparently had Verdugo on their radar for a long time — Acee writes that San Diego had trade talks involving Verdugo in the past, and explored signing him last winter.
Fernando Tatis Jr., Jackson Merrillagain Ramon Laureano was set as the first pitch for the Padres. Miguel Andujar you’ll get some time in the corners, too Gavin Sheets again Nick Castellanos technically also outfield options but the Padres will use both at first and DH. Bryce Johnson is the fourth type of player who hasn’t shown much at the plate in parts of four MLB seasons, and the Padres plan to give Sung Mun Song some time in the outfield as they try to turn Song into a type of big utility in the majors.
The left-handed hitting Verdugo can spell Laureano (a righty) against right-handed hitters, and he has more of a career record as a hitter than Johnson, though Verdugo is better suited defensively as a corner outfielder. Since the Padres don’t have a designated hitter set, the team can rotate any number of players into the DH position to give regulars a few days off and help find bench players.
There is no risk for the Padres in seeing what Verdugo can do in camp, and the team has been keeping a number of players with MLB experience as they evaluate their bench options. France, Pablo Reyes, Jose Miranda, Nick Solakwith many in camp on minor league deals vying for spots on the 26-man roster.
