Report: Padres agree to minor-league deal with Verdugo
The San Diego Padres agreed to a minor-league deal with veteran outfielder Alex Verdugo, reports Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune.
Verdugo didn't receive a big-league spring training invitation and will report to minor-league camp.
The 29-year-old spent the 2025 campaign in the Atlanta Braves organization, posting a .585 OPS in 56 games for the major-league club after hitting .207/.303/.448 in nine games with Triple-A Gwinnett.
Verdugo has appeared in 856 career games in the majors. He owns a career .732 OPS (99 OPS+), with his best campaign coming with the Boston Red Sox during the shortened 2020 season, when he finished 12th in AL MVP voting.
The Padres are projected to start Fernando Tatis Jr., Jackson Merrill, and Ramón Laureano in the outfield, while Bryce Johnson is expected to serve as a fourth outfielder.