Alex Verdugo made a name for himself during last year’s American League Division Series.

The star left fielder got speculation built up around him. And as the MLB offseason peaks, rumors hint Verdugo might find his final destination in the AL central team.

Bleacher Report recently touted the Kansas City Royals as the “best fit” for Verdugo, but the reality is a bit more complicated. The Royals are gearing up for their season opener on March 27 against the Cleveland Guardians. And as of now, there aren’t clear indications that general manager J.J. Picollo is actively pursuing Verdugo.

The focus remains on securing a strong mid-order bat, with left field still a question mark. Though the Royals fanbase knows Verdugo very well, and for all the wrong reasons.

He’s the player who dashed their postseason dreams with a pivotal game-winning hit in Game 1 against the Royals.

MJ Melendez, the current fixture in left field, has been underwhelming at the plate and in the field. His offensive stats tell the story. A batting average hovering just above the Mendoza line, coupled with an alarming strikeout rate.

With a career wRC+ of 91, it’s clear that Melendez has not lived up to expectations. Alex Verdugo could very well be an upgrade over Melendez. While his .233 batting average last season doesn’t jump off the page, he’s shown flashes of potential.

Alex Verdugo Is One Of The Top Remaining Free Agents

With spring training just around the corner, the MLB free agency market is starting to cool down. However, Alex Verdugo still stands out. After a tough 2024 season with the New York Yankees, where he struggled to hit just .233 and finished with a career-low 0.8 WAR, Verdugo is in a bit of a pickle.

Once celebrated as a rising star in the league, especially during his time with the Dodgers and the Red Sox, he’s now looking for a fresh start. However, his disappointing performances left fans in both Boston and New York feeling frustrated.

At only 29 years old, Verdugo still has plenty of potential, setting him apart from some of the other free agents on the market who are on the older side, like J.D. Martinez and Anthony Rizzo.

His earlier years from 2019 to 2022 showed that he could be a valuable player, hitting .289 and averaging around 15 home runs a season.

This past year might have been a setback, but there’s hope that he can bounce back and prove critics wrong. Teams looking for a boost in their outfield production might find him to be an enticing option.