Former Boston Red Sox outfielder Alex Verdugo is back on the open market after a frustrating season cut short by injury.

Verdugo signed a minor-league contract with the San Diego Padres back in March, hoping to reignite his career. Unfortunately, he never took the field for the team. On Tuesday, Padres reporter Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune broke the news: Verdugo has been released and will undergo season-ending shoulder surgery.

“Outfielder Alex Verdugo has a shoulder injury that is expected to keep him out the rest of the season and require surgery,” Acee shared on X. “He has been released by the Padres. After signing a minor-league deal in March, he did not appear in any games for any affiliate.”

This marks the second straight year Verdugo has been let go mid-season. Last July, the Atlanta Braves released him after he appeared in 56 games for the club.

Red Sox fans will remember Verdugo as a key piece in one of the franchise’s most talked-about trades. Boston acquired him from the Los Angeles Dodgers in February 2020—along with Jeter Downs and Connor Wong—in exchange for Mookie Betts, David Price, and cash considerations. Verdugo spent four seasons in Boston, suiting up for 493 games and posting an impressive 8.1 WAR during that stretch, according to Baseball Reference. He hit .281 with 43 home runs and 206 RBIs in a Red Sox uniform.

After his time in Boston, the Red Sox traded Verdugo to the New York Yankees for Richard Fitts, Greg Weissert, and Nicholas Judice. Interestingly, Fitts was later used in a deal to acquire Sonny Gray, while Weissert currently pitches out of Boston’s bullpen. So in a roundabout way, Verdugo is still contributing to the Red Sox in 2026.

For a player who once looked like a cornerstone outfielder, these last two seasons have been a tough stretch. But at just 29 years old, Verdugo’s next chapter could still hold promise—if he can get healthy and find the right fit.