It doesn’t appear as though Alex Verdugo will factor into the Dodgers’ October run, as manager Dave Roberts told The Athletic’s Pedro Moura (Twitter links) and other reporters that “to see him ready at all this postseason [is] very unlikely.” Verdugo himself said that he is still hoping to be available for the World Series, though while he has begun conditioning exercises, he has yet to begin swinging a bat.
Verdugo hasn’t played since August 4 due to a right oblique strain, and he was also hampered by a back issue that developed when the outfielder was on a rehab assignment. Given such a long layoff, it would be difficult to imagine the Dodgers immediately throwing the rookie into the cauldron of World Series play, especially if Verdugo is still at less than 100 percent.
It’s a tribute to the Dodgers’ depth that they have enough outfield options to make do without Verdugo, though the 23-year-old is still missed given how well he played in his first extended taste of Major League action. Long a highly-touted prospect, Verdugo hit .294/.342/.475 with 12 home runs over 377 plate appearances in 2019, continuing the solid contact skills he displayed in the minors by posting only a 13 percent strikeout rate. Beyond his hitting prowess, Verdugo also displayed some strong glovework at all three outfield positions, with a cumulative +7.1 UZR/150 and +13 Defensive Runs Saved over 756 innings on the grass.
Rookie Matt Beaty, another left-handed hitter, may have been the prime beneficiary of Verdugo’s absence, as Beaty was named to the Dodgers’ NLDS roster against the Nationals. Neither Beaty or Joc Pederson, however, were at all productive against left-handed pitching, whereas Verdugo was actually a bit better against lefties (.327/.358/.485 in 109 PA) than against righties (.281/.336/.471 in 268 PA).
Dray?
Dray!!??
Drays mom cleaned up his mess he had after he ate spaghettios in his high chair for lunch. His bib was a mess
I guess this means that Alex Verdugo has played his last game as a Dodger. He will be the White Sox new RF when both teams report to their Camelback Ranch complex next February in Glendale, Arizona.
Nah I think he’ll be a Red Sox as part of a Betts trade.
Stay off the weed I expect Verdugo to be a Dodger for life!
A couple of comedians.
It was a joke, right?
I picture Verdugo Lux and Muncy as everyday players for the Dodgers in 2020 and beyond
Alex Verdugo has not played his last game in Dodger blue are you kidding me that’s a comment that I disagree with because I picture Verdugo as a part of the teams future success for many years to come I 100% believe that he will miss the rest of the 2019 Postseason and be ready for Spring Training in 2020 and that I expect him to start in RF next season but long term he’s going to start in CF long term!
I’d love to hear that trade package tbh. It’d at least be somewhat entertaining to hear the mental olympics attempting to find a trade to match value/need. I can imagine the White Soxs asking for Verdugo and being clear that Moncada, Anderson/Madrigal (which would be superfluous), Jimenez, and Robert would be off limits. Which then the Dodgers would reply we have nothing to talk about. The opportunities to obtain Verdugo were there, they are simply not going to happen now.
A simple trade of Verdugo to the White Sox could center on 1B prospect Andrew Vaughn who was the #3 overall pick in the most recent June Draft. Vaughn was also the consensus top hitter available and his advanced college bat from the University of California should be MLB ready by 2021. His strong right-handed bat would offer the Dodgers better lineup balance and keep Cody Bellinger in RF.
The White Sox need a solid lefty bat to balance off their own future batting order that leans right-handed. They also need a right-fielder. Verdugo would cover both needs. The White Sox are also expected to sign pending free agent 1B Jose Abreu to a contract extension this offseason and have numerous other options to play that position and DH in their system aside from Vaughn.
The Dodgers have a glut of OF’s including 3 lefty hitting ones in Verdugo, Bellinger and Joc Pederson. Bellinger is going nowhere while Pederson’s one year of remaining arbitration control will be less enticing to the White Sox who reportedly had a trade lined up for him last offseason before it was allegedly nixed at the last moment by Andrew Friedman.
The White Sox and Dodgers seem to match up with other trade possibilities as well. An expanded blockbuster involving Verdugo and Lucas Giolito isn’t out of the realm of possibility. I could see the White Sox selling high on Giolito with Dodger southpaw Julio Urias also returning to Chicago. Giolito could return to his LA and Hollywood roots while the White Sox would address their two biggest needs this offseason, a left-handed bat and a left-handed starting pitcher. Perhaps the White Sox would be willing to keep Vaughn in this deal and the Dodgers could oblige them with catching prospect Keibert Ruiz. The White Sox are still unsure of their core catcher going forward and the switch-hitting Ruiz could solve that concern. If the Dodgers are sold on Ruiz long term then maybe they will consider parting with Will Smith instead. The White Sox also have more than a few high octane bullpen arms in their system that might interest the Dodgers this winter.
As I said, there are a lot of possible matchups with these two teams heading into what figures to be a very busy offseason, at least for the White Sox.
alot changes coming if Dodgers dont win it all, Roberts will be fired, Verdugo will stay because they can get alot more talent in return for Pederson, Kiki, Taylor and Barnes all gone,
I agree, except for Taylor!
They can’t, and well they won’t……. So yeah
No way Roberts gets fired. Front office and players love him. And he’s been very successful.
Exactly. Roberts was just extended for four years, and now they’re going to fire him for implementing the front office game plan? It’s bad enough that front offices often place the blame for their failures on managers but that isn’t going to happen here. If the Dodgers don’t do it this year, ownership’s icy glare should be directed to Kasten and Friedman, assuming they care about something other than the money. But that probably won’t happen either because they don’t care about anything but the money.
No, just no. Roberts will be their manager for a very long time. Verdugo alone has more value than all 3 players you listed.. Trading any of those 3 players you listed is not a major change. The fact someone actually thinks this is strange.
Boy… quite a few Dodger haters and White Sox dreamers on here…. Verdugo & I will see you at Camelback
I made a couple of sensible trade suggestions involving Alex Verdugo and others players. Try dreaming on Andrew Vaughn for starters and then Lucas Giolito. Perhaps that will at least get your attention.
Btw: I don’t hate the Dodgers. In fact, I have the utmost respect for their organization and would be more than happy if the White Sox front office could approach theirs or the Astros as they begin their transition from rebuilders to contenders this offseason.