He's shaping up to be a bust.There’s some good news on the progress of recently acquired outfielder Alex Verdugo, but also some added questions. Bradford writes that the 23-year-old has made major strides just since camp opened — but also that he may miss a month or more of the regular season.
I was impressed by him in the Boston series in July and was convinced they'd demand him in any Betts trade. After a good rookie year and better upside, Verdugo appeared to be the best replacement available. Other posters inadvertently agreed, when they mocked my insistence at his inclusion for one-year-of-Mookie.
Obviously, the odds of a monumental, franchise-defining trade turning out positive go down when the centerpiece is damaged goods. Though young guys can heal quickly from muscle pulls (legs, even shoulders, obliques, etc.), two problem areas that can linger forever are knees or backs...