The Purple Sox misplaced first baseman Triston Casas for a yet-to-be-determined however important time frame yesterday, because the 24-year-old slugger was recognized with a left rib fracture. Supervisor Alex Cora stated on the time that Bobby Dalbec would get the majority of enjoying time at first base in lieu of Casas, but it surely appears the Sox are additionally mulling the potential of going outdoors the group. Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com studies that Boston has had some preliminary talks about bringing veteran C.J. Cron again to the group.
Cron, 34, was with the Sox throughout spring coaching however was granted his launch in late March after he triggered an opt-out clause. The veteran slugger noticed motion in simply six spring video games and went 3-for-15 with a pair of walks. He stays unsigned.
Middling as these small-sample spring numbers could also be, Cron has a protracted and customarily productive monitor file on the massive league degree. He’s a profession .260/.320/.471 hitter who’s hit 25 or extra dwelling runs in 4 completely different seasons, together with a 29-homer marketing campaign as just lately because the 2022 season with the Rockies. Cron hit .260/.304/.476 and popped 11 homers in 56 video games with the Rox final season earlier than being traded to the Angels — his authentic group — on the deadline. He slumped to a .200/.259/.260 line in 15 video games post-trade, nonetheless, and twice hit the injured listing as a result of decrease again troubles over the ultimate two months of the season.
Cron has had 4 IL placements as a result of again and neck accidents for the reason that 2021 season, and he missed nearly all of the shortened 2020 marketing campaign after damaging a ligament in his knee whereas fielding a grounder — an harm that ultimately required surgical procedure. It’s been a troublesome few years on the well being entrance, however Cron has usually been a productive bat when he’s been on the sector. Given the truth that he’s nonetheless unsigned after opting out of a minor league deal, one would think about the associated fee to signal him could be reasonably priced as properly.
There are different choices for the Sox to think about in the event that they certainly go outdoors the group. Fellow veteran Brandon Belt stays unsigned regardless of a hefty .254/.369/.490 slash and 19 dwelling runs in 404 plate appearances with the Blue Jays final 12 months. That efficiency checked in 38% higher than league common, by measure of wRC+ (138). The Cubs additionally simply designated veteran Garrett Cooper for project regardless of a quite productive 41 plate appearances to start his season (.270/.341/.432, 118 wRC+). Cooper has punched out in additional than 30% of his plate appearances and benefited from a .391 BABIP, which could possibly be pink flags for the Sox and different events, nonetheless.
For now, it’ll be Dalbec getting the seems at first base, although it’s hardly a shock that the Sox aren’t comfy merely handing him the keys at first base. The previous hit 33 dwelling runs in his first 156 massive league video games from 2020-21 however has since batted simply .198/.268/.337 (65 wRC+) in 441 plate appearances — all whereas punching out at a evident 37.2% clip. Much more regarding is Dalbec’s begin to the 2024 season. The 28-year-old has taken 35 plate appearances and gone 1-for-32 with 18 strikeouts.