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Braves Make Alex Verdugo Announcement Amid Jurickson Profar News

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Zach Kaplan | Last updated Jul 2, 2025 1:38 PM ET

The Alex Verdugo era in Atlanta was marked by ups and downs, a year after the outfielder made headlines for his lack of a major-league offer deep into the offseason.

Despite a polarizing tenure with the Yankees, Verdugo didn’t receive a chance until his signing on March 20 with the Braves.

The signing of Verdugo proved critical as the Braves lost Jurickson Profar to a positive PED test early in the season, but Profar will return from his 80-game suspension Wednesday. In the wake of this news, the Braves announced they designated Verdugo for assignment.

Verdugo slashed .239/.296/.289 with Atlanta, with 0 home runs in 197 at-bats and only 12 RBIs. His expected batting average of .273 was better than his .250 last year, but he wasn't barreling balls at nearly the same rate, and Baseball Savant shows he took major steps back in his hard hit percentage and launch angle sweet spot rate.

The Braves have not performed nearly to standard in 2025, recently slipping below the Marlins for fourth place in the NL East, a prospect that was nearly unheard of at the start of the season.

What’s next for the 29-year-old is unknown. He might look to sign a ‘prove-it’ deal, most likely a minor-league one, with a team like the Blue Jays, Phillies, Guardians or Twins who need an outfielder.

The Pirates also may be a destination, given that Verdugo's spiraled career trajectory aligns with the Pirates' trend of digging in the bargain bin.

Verdugo’s career path has been winding, and prior to his time in New York, he was a standout prospect for the Dodgers and the prized piece of the now-infamous deal that sent Mookie Betts to LA.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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