Yankees Castoff Faces Reckoning on Braves Future as $100 Million MVP Nears Return

Alex Verdugo, who spent one disastrous year with the New York Yankees last season, entered free agency after collecting $9.2 million from the Yankees. Not only was no team willing to match or exceed that contract, Verdugo reportedly did not receive a single offer.

That changed on March 20 when the Atlanta Braves signed Verdugo. But to get on the path back to the big leagues, the 28-year-old former Los Angeles Dodgers No. 1 prospect had to settle for a one-year, $1.5 million deal.

But that wasn’t all. Verdugo also had to agree to return to the minor leagues.

On April 17, the ex-Yankee finally got the call. He undoubtedly provided a spark. The Braves stood at a dismal 5-13 when Verdugo joined the team. Since then, Atlanta has won 16 of 24 games to finally reach the .500 mark prior to Wednesday’s game hosting the Washington Nationals.

Nonetheless, Verdugo’s position on the Braves roster, and certainly in the team’s starting lineup, remains in doubt. The reason can be summed up in three words: Ronald Acuña Jr.

The 27-year-old, four-time All-Star missed most of last season with a torn ACL in his left knee — three years after suffering the same injury in his right one. But on Tuesday he finally played his first minor league rehab game — and homered.

Acuña Jr. could now return to the majors in less than three weeks.

And that means Verdugo, who has just 23 hits in 99 plate appearances and a sluggish .640 OPS, may find himself squeezed out.

More MLB: Ex-Yankee With ‘Off-Field Issues’ Expected Back in Majors After Braves Shocker

With Michael Harris II holding a firm grip on center field, competition for the third starting outfield spot comes down to Verdugo and Eli White, who is putting together a career year with an .842 OPS.

Based on their current numbers, Verdugo should find his job in jeopardy. But according to Braves Fansided scribe Nick Halter, Atlanta manager Brian Snitker may demote White anyway.

“White’s hot start hasn’t been trusted by Snitker, with the manager pulling the outfielder in multiple spots and continuing to put his bat at the bottom of the lineup,” Halter wrote on Tuesday.

The 30-year-old White is a 2016, 11th-round draft pick of the then-Oakland Athletics, out of Clemson. Verdugo was the Dodgers’ second-round pick in 2014 and was so highly regarded as a prospect that he was a key piece sent to Boston in the 2020 trade for Mookie Betts.

On the other hand, if Snitker makes his decision based on actual performance at the plate, rather than reputation and “trust,” Verdugo will clearly be the odd man out in Atlanta.

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