Newly acquired Red Sox outfielder Alex Verdugo seems to be healing up nicely during the pandemic pause, as Jason Mastrodonato of the Boston Herald writes. He had been sidelined with a stress fracture in his lower back when Spring Training was halted.
When last we heard from Verdugo, a key piece of the offseason blockbuster with the Dodgers, he had resumed baseball activities. But his outlook remained largely unclear, particularly given the vagaries of lower-back issues.
Now, Verdugo says, he’s at full health. Soon to turn 24, the left-handed-hitting outfielder is optimistic that he’ll be ready to roll whenever the second spring for the 2020 season begins.
“I’m at such a good position mentally and physically that I’m not worried about (my performance),” he told reporters. “I’m just ready to go play.”
While he’s anxious to get back underway, Verdugo also acknowledged that getting back to action involves rather complicated considerations and says he doesn’t want to do so prematurely. Mastrodonato covers his opinions on the resumption of play in full.
[RELATED: What Happens To The Mookie Betts Trade If The Season Is Canceled?]
And what about the possibility of a lost season … such that the Dodgers would lose Mookie Betts to free agency before he suits up for them? Per Verdugo: “We can’t expect these things and for the Dodgers that’s a tough deal. But, hey, everything happens for a reason.”
As a dodger fan. I wish Verdugo well. He was both a top prospect and kinda a black sheep in LA. Always had a smile on his face and was joking With the guys tho
Glad bos figured out what his problem was.. la it was always undiagnosed back problems… I’m sure that helped fix it, knowing the problem. Lol
Yup was def a fan fav….
Best wishes, no ill feelings on the trade.
We were straight shooters the whole way, can Bos say the same?
Dodgers = Class Acts; in some pretty shady times- Theres value in that
True take Sox verdugo for free
Cautiously optimistic. I hope this kid turns into a stud. He’s definitely got the hit tool. Good luck kid.
Trevor Plouffe is saying ST2 starts June 10 and Opening Day is July 1.
i think that is probable id say. i think July 1st is the best projected start date right now.
Yeah he’s “reporting” it and will discuss it on his podcast, with his references being “sources say” and the usual. Might be baloney might be legit.
Well whoever his sources are, they’re clearly better than Dave Meltzer and Bryan Alvarez.
Love what Verdugo brought to the Dodgers but even in a doomsday scenario they have plenty of OFs to help mend his departure. McKinstry, Raley and Rios all have the upside to be just as good of hitters as Dugie.
Can you please stop huffing glue? Exactly none of those
quad A/ fringe outfielders is nearly as good as Verdugo.
Let’s cut the crap!
The only person huffing glue is the one doubting the Dodgers ability to churn out solid players from the farm year after year. Im sure you said the exact same thing about Beaty. Verdugo has a high floor but also a low ceiling with his lack of power. He is a better defender than any of those guys but the idea he will be an elite hitter is pushing it.
Matt Beaty hit 2% above league average in 259 ABS. He did that in a season with a juiced ball. Let’s slow it way down there. He can easily dip to 10% below league average next year.
Verdugos ceiling is super super high…We are talking about a guy whoes probably going to a couple All Star games in this decade if healthy-
No, we dont have that in the reserve tank in LA, but our books are getting super clean and the youth Sps will keep it that way. Money can buy back the loss….hopefully that continues to be Betts moving forward
Dodgers were gambling that they can resign Betts, frankly I agree. They do not need Verdugo if they have Betts….
After watching Betts for six years (Red Sox fan), I think he is an LA kind of guy with the weather and glitz. The Red Sox were never going to pay him what he was asking.
What gets me is that other Red Sox fans were complaining about the players they got. The Red Sox saved $48 million on Price and got three solid players controllable for a combined 19 years vs Betts gone after one year.
Loosing Porcello, Price, Sale (Red Sox knew he was hurt), the Red Sox were never going to compete in 2020, so they reset CBT, saved $48 mil, and get three players – good trade for the RedSox…..If 2020 had been played in full, I think Betts for one year helps the Dodgers win their first WS in 32 years, which would have been a really good trade for both teams. The Vegas odds on no season in 2020 was probably like a trillion to one and that is what made it a bad trade for the Dodgers……
LMAO you said it JohnnyBets. Fans become delusional in their process of swaying others from the facts and logic. Stop scamming for crying out loud. Be real because no one is going to buy the bologna that is peddling about how great a trade it was bringing Mookie. I think Mookie is 1, 2 or 3 tops outfielders in baseball but you consider that he will give you one year of service and attached is a corpse that you will owe 40 million to over 3 years. You got 38 million to price and 30 million to Mookie, How on earth would you pay 60 + million for 1 year of mookie and throw away at Verdugo and some prospects. Basically it was asinine.
If you disagree then I just can’t simply help you. May the good Lord have mercy on your soul
If one year of Betts bring the Dodgers their first World Series win in 32 years would that have made the trade worth it ? I am not saying yes or no, just asking Dodger fans if that would have been worth it if the entire 2020 season had been played and you could watch your Dodgers win it all……
…I do not like Price or his attitude, but he did go 3-1 in the WS run in 2018 and the RS probably do not wins it with out him ……still glad he is not on the Red Sox any more…..they are trying to get younger…
If I were a Dodger fan I would still be upset about trading Verdugo, Downs, and Wong for Betts and Price…..a World Series win would have been nice though (since they missed three years running without Betts).
Yeah, if Mookie propels them to a WS, it’d be worth it from their POV. Really fantastic trade for the Red Sox either way. Verdugo and Downs was an absolute coup.
The Dodgers have the prospect depth to take that gamble for a championship. The only problem is that offense wasn’t really their problem at all last year. It was the lack of a bullpen. Maybe Graterol can be a key contributor down there as well. I guess we’ll see how it goes.
Omg I hate the cardinals and their players and anyone associated with them. I’m so smart, just ask me, I’ll tell you. I should be the GM. I’m definitely not a troll. I bring so much value to this place mlbtr should be paying me.
What? I’m assuming you were responding to someone? but as it is… your comment is just floating out here by itself not making any sense…
I go to all the articles to hate on the cardinals. Doesn’t matter if they’re mentioned or not, they live in my head year round and I am emotionally unstable. A bit of a sociopath.
The first step is admitting it. Commendable!
Verdugo is going to be a very good player for the Red Sox. Everything does not happen for a reason though.
Depends on what you mean by “a reason.” If it’s a teleological claim, that events happen in order to produce an outcome, then I agree it’s horsepucky. But there is a reason for everything that happens: the antecedent cause(s).
Off your comment, it will be even worse if Verdugo we’re to become an All-Star and puts up great numbers for the Red Sox with his 5 years of service. There’s a huge problem that owners run into, hiring GM’s that are morons and think with their heart and emotions. To be a GM you have to work it like business. If there’s pressure from the fans to make a trade you make that trade if it’s business smarts. Never be pressured by fans to do your job and more importantly never mortgage your future for cool world series championship. Many team’s have tried it and failed
Off your comment, it will be even worse if we’re to go becomes an All-Star and puts up great numbers for Red Sox for 5 years. Owners sometimes hire on a moron to be there GM that reacts emotionally and with their heart to make trade decisions. They fall weak to fan pressure. Fans want certain trades made by their team but lack sense then the GM listens to them. Never let the fans do your job, if they pressure an organization to make a trade, you make the trade if it’s business only. Then this happened over and over where a GM gambles mortgaging the future to get a world championship and often enough it destroys the fan moral because their team is awful for years because a bad gamble.
It was sad to see him dealt. I remember watching him play for the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes og the California League (A)
As a Yankees fan still don’t think Boston got nearly enough for Betts. I would of demanded Lux and May
Dodgers wouldn’t give up Lux for anyone, according to reports. Even two years minimum of Lindor was a no go. Red Sox did great to get a very good major league bat and a high upside prospect. Betts might have not played another game for Boston. Huge win.
Yeah true, but! the problem here is that lux is overrated and he’s not that great because he lacks contact. Way to many strike outs and I am not a fan of K’s and backwards K’s
Brucenewton Just checked! Based on last season as a Dodger, Lux is awesome collecting whiffs! If he was to play the whole season he would approximately get about 675 at-bats in and by his strike out ratio Lux would have a whopping 214 strikeouts based on last season as a rookie. So again, not a fan of the strike out and that being said Verdugo to me is more valuable than Lux
So you’re basing your opinion on a sept call up and not when he dominated the minors all year?
I don’t think you know baseball
Two staring stars for a one year rental ? Not happening
NYY fan – Lux or May might have been included if Betts had 2 or 3 remaining years, but not for 1 year.
The deal was only completed because LA lost 2 WS and an NLCS in the last 3 years and was only a Mookie Betts away from winning it all this year. All three players the Red Sox received are solid, but LA has plenty more as good or better, so it did not hurt the farm and made them the most complete team in MLB.
In all the games i watched last season Verdugo and Mcneil were some of the hardest to get out both very good contact players.
Betts not a one year rental. Guarantee he stays
I also think Betts stays in LA, butt that is a separate contract/decision and is not part of The Trade.
Dodgers need to win the bidding war for Betts.