Padres sign Verdugo to Minors deal, bolster outfield depth

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- The Padres have signed veteran outfielder Alex Verdugo to a Minor League deal, and he will report to the team’s Minor League camp, which gets underway this week.

Verdugo, who will turn 30 in May, batted .239 with a .585 OPS in 56 games with Atlanta last year. Across parts of nine seasons with the Dodgers, Red Sox, Yankees and Braves, the lefty-hitting Verdugo has recorded a .270/.326/.406 slash line with 70 career home runs.

It’s a low-risk depth addition for the Padres, who, barring injury, don’t have room on their big league roster for another corner outfielder. But if Verdugo can hit in the Minors, he could work his way into contention for a callup in the event of an injury.

Drafted by the Dodgers in 2014, Verdugo was one of the main pieces headed to Boston in the deal that sent Mookie Betts to L.A. prior to the 2020 season. He was traded from the Red Sox to the Yankees prior to the '24 season and started every postseason game that October as New York reached the World Series.

Verdugo signed with the Braves prior to the 2025 season but was released in July after struggling for much of the first half.

Hoeing shut down
Righty reliever Bryan Hoeing has been shut down from throwing after experiencing discomfort in his right elbow during a live batting practice session last week.

“He felt something, and, again, we don’t think it’s as serious, but we have to be conscious of it and take a look at it and be able to make the right assessment,” said pitching coach Ruben Niebla.

It’s another disappointing turn for Hoeing, who is coming off an injury-riddled 2025 campaign. He missed the first few months of the season with a right shoulder strain and never regained the form he showed down the stretch in 2024, after arriving at the Trade Deadline in the same deal that sent Tanner Scott from Miami to San Diego.

The Padres did not offer a timetable for Hoeing’s return, but it’s unlikely he’d be in the mix for the Opening Day roster. Nonetheless, the Padres already boast one of the sport’s deepest bullpens, and Hoeing was probably on the outside looking in for a roster spot.

Across parts of four big league seasons, Hoeing owns a 4.72 ERA. He’s made 25 appearances for the Padres, posting an impressive 1.99 mark, but Hoeing simply hasn’t been on the mound enough for San Diego.

Márquez debuts
Right-hander Germán Márquez was tagged for three runs on four hits in his first Cactus League inning during the Padres’ 9-1 loss to the Giants on Sunday afternoon at Scottsdale Stadium. He settled in for a 1-2-3 second and punched out two, while walking none across his two frames.

“Ton of strikes, had trouble putting them away a little bit,” Stammen said. “It’s one of those outings, in Arizona it’s tough to get the breaking balls going. But I think he’ll be better the next time. He showed he’ll be pounding the zone, and I think he’ll get better as the Spring Training goes.”

Márquez is one of a handful of contenders for what seems likely to be only one available spot in the San Diego rotation. Marco Gonzales, who allowed two runs over three innings in relief on Sunday, is also in that mix. So, too, are JP Sears, Walker Buehler and, if healthy, Matt Waldron.