Yankees' $9.2 Million Reject Closer to MLB Return After Triple-A 3-Run Homer

After one season with the New York Yankees — a season in which the 27-time World Series winners made their 41st trip to the Fall Classic — 28-year-old Alex Verdugo had every expectation of landing another multi-million dollar contract, after making a career-high $9.2 million from the Yankees last year.

That never happened. The Yankees showed no interest at all in re-signing him, and Verdugo remained unsigned until there was just one week remaining in spring training, when the Atlanta Braves gave him a $1.5 million deal for one season, then promptly sent him down to the minor leagues. When — or even if — he would return to the big leagues was not clear.

Former New York Yankees Outfielder Alex Verdugo. — NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 25: Alex Verdugo #24 of the New York Yankees looks on against the Baltimore Orioles at Yankee Stadium on September 25, 2024 in the Bronx borough of New York… Luke Hales/Getty Images

Then Jurickson Profar, the Braves’ three-year, $42 million offseason signing, received a positive test for a banned performance-enhancing drug and the 80-game suspension that came with it. Suddenly, the Braves appear to need Verdugo — who posted a full-season career-low .647 OPS in his year with New York — to get a call-up.

In fact, according to Fansided’s Eric Cole, after a 4-11 start the Braves may be hanging their hopes for turning their season around and making an eighth straight trip to the playoffs on the left fielder.

“Over the weekend, there were increasing whispers that Verdugo could get an opportunity in the big leagues sooner rather than later. For everyone that has been watching Bryan De La Cruz, Jarred Kelenic, and co. so far this season, this makes loads of sense,” Cole wrote on Monday. “While expecting Verdugo to play like an All-Star may be asking too much, the Braves don’t really need him to be. If he can be a .270 hitter with some power and good defense, that would represent a massive upgrade.”

According to MLB.com Braves insider reporter Mark Bowman, while giving the caveat that Verdugo may not be “the answer,” he “definitely won’t be any worse than Kelenic.”

Verdugo blasted a three-run home run in a minor league game on Sunday, then was pulled from the game, “fueling speculation that the veteran outfielder will be brought up and join Atlanta for its series in Toronto,” according to The Athletic writer David O’Brien.

The Braves opened that series on Monday and Verdugo was not yet with the team. The Braves open a six-game homestand on Friday, which may also be a target date for Verdugo to be called up.