Alex Verdugo approached Red Sox leadership about an extension
Red Sox outfielder Alex Verdugo wants to stay with the organization long-term.
On Monday, Verdugo approached Red Sox decision makers, including John Henry and expressed his desire to remain in Boston for the long haul, according to Gabrielle Starr of the Boston Herald.
Starr noted that the interaction between Verdugo and the Sox leadership group was “brave.”
The 26-year-old expressing desire in extension talks comes on the heels of manager Alex Cora calling him out for his performance at the conclusion of the 2022 season. Cora said that his energetic outfielder needed to take a big step forward in 2023.
The Arizona native showed up to camp ahead of the mandatory deadline and appears determined to take that next step this season.
At first glance, Verdugo appears to be in the best shape of his big league career. In addition to putting in work to get in better physical shape, he also noted he is tired of hearing the media and fans talk negatively about him.
“I’m real about it. I don’t like when people talk (expletive) about me,” Verdugo said to Chris Cotillo of MassLive. “I don’t like when people say anything about me in certain ways. But in his aspect, he wasn’t saying it to bash me. He wasn’t saying it out of spite. He was saying it because he truly believes that there’s so much more and that he wants to figure out a way to spark it and to get it. I think he did.”
“It was just that final straw, man,” Verdugo said. “I was just tired of people always having something to say about me and it’s like, you know what, (expletive) it. Let’s handle what I can handle. Let’s control what I can control and put in the work.”
Verdugo agreed to a $6.3 million deal avoiding arbitration this winter. He is not eligible for free agency until 2025.
The tough love “pissed me off,” Verdugo told MassLive this week, “But everything pisses me off.” Still, he admitted, “They had reasons to talk, right?”
Verdugo wants to sign an extension with Boston, coming into camp in shape is the first step. A big season at the dish in 2023 will help make the case for a long-term deal with the Red Sox.
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