The second half of the regular season is upon us, and the Atlanta Braves are on the outside of the playoff race looking in as we cross into August.
After entering the season with high expectations, the Braves have been forced to manage more of a roller coaster of a first half than any fans or coaches had anticipated. That has led to several roster moves being made over the summer as Atlanta desperately tries to right the ship with its young, talented roster.
One of the players brought in to provide the lineup with a boost had the exact opposite impact on the team. As a result, he is still without a job after the All-Star break following the Braves' decision to cut ties with the veteran in early July.
Ex-Braves OF Alex Verdugo Still Unemployed After MLB Trade Deadline
Alex Verdugo came to the Atlanta Braves during the offseason on a one-year, $1.5 million deal. Following stints with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Boston Red Sox, and New York Yankees, the pressure that comes with playing for the franchise that represents the majority of SEC country should have been nothing new for the veteran.
Whether it was the pressure that got to him, or simply a stretch of bad luck that ran a bit too long, the Braves designated Verdugo for assignment on July 2 before cutting bait entirely on July 5. Nearly one month later, Verdugo remains unsigned as the 29-year-old continues his hunt for his next job opportunity.
Unfortunately, his time in Atlanta did him no favors in that endeavor, as his numbers across 56 games with the Braves were anything but impressive. Verdugo finished his career in Atlanta with a batting average of .239, along with zero home runs and just 12 RBI.
Those numbers weren't good enough for the Braves to keep him on the roster even at a relatively minor salary. They certainly aren't making Verdugo an attractive option to the rest of the league either, as his time as a free agent has shown.