Red Sox Avoid Arbitration With Alex Verdugo
3 years agoThe Boston Red Sox avoided salary arbitration with outfielder Alex Verdugo on Tuesday by agreeing to a one-year, $3.55 million deal. Verdugo had a very solid year in his second season with Boston in 2021, slashing .289/.351/.426 with a career-high 13 home runs, 63 RBI, six steals and 88 runs scored in 604 plate appearances over 146 games. Because he doesn't have a ton of power or speed -- 31 home runs and 14 thefts in the last three years combined -- Verdugo is outside the top-40 fantasy outfielders. However, his value as an everyday player lies in his volume in a strong Red Sox lineup. The 25-year-old will be an excellent value selection if he's hitting near the top of Boston's order this year, although his struggles against lefties could be a problem.
Source: MLB Network - Jon Heyman
Source: MLB Network - Jon Heyman