The Red Sox have signed utility player Yairo Munoz to a minor league contract, according to their transactions page. The club assigned Munoz to Triple-A Pawtucket.
Munoz came available when the Cardinals released him March 7. The two sides’ relationship took an especially sour turn when Munoz, upset by the lack of playing time he received last season, flew home from spring training without informing the Cardinals. Manager Mike Shildt suggested then that Munoz, who was also dealing with a hamstring injury, would have been in position to earn an Opening Day roster spot in St. Louis had he stuck around. Instead, though, if we even get a baseball season in 2020, Munoz will have to work his way back via Boston’s minor league system.
Now 25 years old, Munoz was an effective hitter off the bench for the Cardinals when he debuted in 2018. He was a .276/.350/.413 batter with eight home runs and five stolen bases across 329 plate appearances that year. However, his production tanked during a 2019 campaign in which he slashed .267/.298/.355 with a pair of homers and eight steals in 181 PA. Munoz’s walk rate dropped by almost 6 percent, one of the reasons he wasn’t able to replicate his successful rookie showing.
Despite last year’s struggles at the plate, Munoz does at least bring defensive versatility to the table. He has amassed 20 or more lifetime appearances at three infield spots (shortstop, third and second) and has totaled double-digit games at all three outfield positions. The Red Sox are clearly set at third (Rafael Devers) and short (Xander Bogaerts), but Munoz could still see action elsewhere if he does land a spot on their roster sometime in 2020.
Best of luck to him, but won’t miss him. Replaceable player with a bad attitude.
Playing in redneck white trash St Louis with an idiot manager are two things no player should ever have to endure.
Didn’t Shildt win MOY? Just wondering who the true idiot is here…
MOY ranks right up there with the GG award. SUBJECTIVELY MEANINGLESS.
Lol welcome troll Lock…yea sorry I mean let’s forget also that he lead them to the NLCS his first full year…I mean all the numbers And players say he is a good manager but let’s trust the troll
Kinda like the majority of your comments. You really need to grow up and stop whining so much, it’s not a good look.
only because it doesnt support your point, right?
Yes! burn STL! Were you wronged in St Louis too? Please tell your story sir!?
What story?
Meant for the guy with strong STL hate. Curious about his personal experiences with the city demographic.
Eephus11…they are both trolls of hate for everything cardinal…both need therapy
So…there aren’t any black trash, hispanic trash, asian trash, or arab trash among the white trash you decry in St. Louis? You are right about one item though: No one posting on this site should have to endure your vacuous and ill tempered comments. A dolt of the first order.
You’re an idiot
Doesn’t Boston have more of a reputation for white trash fans than stl’s bfib?
Nah they don’t
Still a little butt hurt about the Blues I take it
Playing in Oakland for a franchise disinterested in being successful is one thing no MLB player should be subjected to.
He never played for Oakland, who just won 97 games back to back.
All the Oakland homers on here hate my truth-telling too.
Is it possible for all you 2-cent brains on here I provide critical analysis of all 30 teams and bear zero bias? I guess not huh. Sports fan homerism is mental illness, I am 100% convinced.
Strike Four, nobody gets their little feewings hurt more than the self proclaimed, BFIB, Cards fans. You, me and a few others drop facts on here, but it doesn’t matter. With Cards fan, the response always is, “we won 11 WS”, even though 8 of them were before most of them were born.
Then you have the illness, Fourski. The cure is to self-quarantine. Knocking on your neighbor’s cardboard box won’t cut it. Hope you land on your feet sooner rather than later. Your posts make you seem a little off.
Your jealousy is showing again…cardinal troll
Always on here crying. Is it that time of the month again?
Oh great someone who complains possibly taking a spot of some who does good for everyone on n off the field . His numbers are good but that’s from the NL, nuff said on that.
Yeah this isn’t 1996 anymore, pal. The NL isn’t a lesser offensive league
Like the stock market, each league is up and down. You’d know that if you were better, Monty.
why does it matter want league it is anymore? this isnt the heyday of Cabrera and Pujols anymore.
on second thought, that would be the opposite perspective. when on earth has it meant less to hit better in the NL? not since ive been alive at least.
Since 1973 when one league soared high over the other in terms of quality because in one league pitchers had 9 legit hitters to face instead of 8 and the equivalent of some random drunk guy pulled from the stands.
NL pitchers are weaker than AL ones because they get a break (NL teams also love playing terrible D-only players everyday, so an NL pitcher only really has to face 6-7 MLB-quality hitters.). Lots of NL hitters also get better pitches to hit, because pitchers are used to that break and allow the holes in their armor to play. AL pitchers are far superior because there is no break, its 9 MLB-quality hitters and they HAVE to be switched on at all times to succeed.
I’m definitely not saying every NL-only pitcher is worse or bad, talent is always going to play no matter where, but theres a LOT of “good” NL pitchers who routinely get destroyed when they play in the AL, those pitchers are the ones who bring a flawed gameplan that “eases up” in the 7-9 spots. AL pitchers dont do that.
I got a name for you Mad Max Scherzer, played in both leagues and Cy Young winner in both. He should’ve started to struggle by now with how long hes been in the NL but nope. I think hes better than alot of AL pitchers not named Cole or Verlander.
Must kill him that the cardinals had the #1 ranking in defense last year…NL team that he obviously hates and all
Strike Four—- Frank Robinson sure didn’t have any trouble hitting in either league!! When traded as an All-Star to Baltimore—-he became the MVP of the AL that season
. As for you detailed analysis of current pitching and hitting in either league—-your basic concept eludes me. Pitching and hitting change daily. Any team can be beaten any day no matter who’s playing.
St. Louis is one of the best storied franchises in baseball. In my opinion, even though they’ve showed success, their President of baseball operations, John Mozeliak, has put them behind the 8-ball on bad contracts to over the hill players. Plus— in respect to what you said, he’s a poor evaluator of playing talent. Both present and future.
Also in my opinion. John Mozeliak is married to Matt Carpenter. Munoz clearly played better at 3rd than Carpenter!! Yet— because Carpenter was a distant past spark plug of the Cardinals, Mozeliak choses to play a less talented player ( because of his crippling ailments) in Carpenter, than a more talented younger player ( at this point), in Munoz.
I don’t actually blame Munoz for being so disgusted with John Mozeliak’s thought process.
Just went we thought you couldn’t be dumber, you go out and say something like this.
And totally redeem yourself….as the dumbest comment posters on the site, Strike Four. Give yourself a pat.
Mozeliak is an over rated, arrogant, bean counter.
Uh oh, you used caps!!
And yet, he’s been far more successful at every aspect of his life in comparison to you…..a pathetic, hateful little boy who spends his time trolling.
Hitters usually do better going to the AL.
… Albert Pujols
that’s kinda what i wss going for before i got confused.
Shrewd move by Bloom. Munoz blew his chance at a MLB roster spot by being a baby, so why not make him earn his way back? If he’s hungry, he has the talent to be a MLB player and is still relatively young. Good to replenish the farm that Dombrowski absolutely decimated. Too bad he can’t pitch!
I understand you are a saint.
Amazing comment
Signed to a MiLB deal and he’s got a MiLB option also. Shame is if he does make the 26 man roster and season starts.. Lin, who has no options left could be the casualty and right now is the backup CF’er.
You don’t think Bloom is doing the same with pitchers. He stated that when he walked in the door. Has some under the radar relievers (TB style) and I’m sure he will one or two will help. With Sale having TJ and Price traded, it will give some young pitchers a chance to show what they can do. Also when teams cut for final rosters there are always players picked up that end up having good years. The Sox aren’t winning the WS in 2000 but in 2021/22 they should be ready to fight that battle. Bloom will continue to focus on acquiring and developing pitching with a greater focus on starters.
Sox got their Mookie replacement
Who?
Why?
Munoz > Peraza
What a baby, he was in line to make the roster. This is a good example, for my kids, of what a professional player doesnt do!
look dude, you have no clue what is actually going on here. maybe he was worried avout his family or something? maybe he wanted to go check on him before this coronavirus thing really exploded. the guy is only 25. how many guys that young do impulsive things sometimes. well, i can at least tell you a lot are more harmfull than taking a flight home to see your family. geez people. the guy’s a human. its not like sports players are a different breed.
DS80 nails it again! Standing ovation. Your droids will have to wait outside!
DS830, my apologies
Dynamite mistake there, Monty.
Dark side, usually if a player is concerned about family or personal matters he request to be granted a personal leave. They just dont take off without telling the club, theres protocol. It clearly said in the article that he left because he was unhappy about playing time so that’s what we are all going on sir.
and i cant nessicarly disagree with the sentiment based on the information available, i just feel like there is probably more to the story then the information currently available on it.
@Darkside830 – shhh, dont try and bring reason and logic to the table when talking to a homer! They only understand “player not wearing MY teams colors is bad”. They have absolutely no concept of nuance. They are nothing but cattle-people who should be out in a field, eating grass. Totally mindless, brainless drone-people who only know hate.
Strike four why are you acting like such a tough guy lol hide behind that computer internet tough guy
I’m just speaking on what the article says. He may be a great player but still acting a lil childish no?
Seriously?! You do nothing but hate here.
Pot, meet kettle you f!@#%ng hypocrite.
@cards81 I will end you in the streets, you cowardly little nerd
Lol strike four…on the streets huh…keep hiding behind that computer bud…internet tough guy lmao…you don’t know me…the only person acting like a coward is you…hiding behind a computer and acting tough is the most cowardly thing going on here
cards – he lives on the streets. Please show some mercy for the little guy.
I’m sure he’s real scared of you, internet tough guy!
That’s not what happened, it was reported that he communicated with ex-teammates and he left because he wasn’t happy with his playing time last year and thought it would be the same this year.
Exactly, we only know one side of this story. At 25 with talent he deserves another opportunity. If he blows that then good luck to him. Look at Verdugo, he’s not exactly the poster boy for all that’s respectful and wholesome but he better figure that out or he will waste all that talent.
this will be steal. im a Peraza fan but an even bigger Munoz one. both coulf be great utilityman, and perhaps even starters with more seasoning.
Munoz will definitely rake at Fenway, great pickup.
Pawtucket.
Astros
Interesting look into this guy and i think it’s a savvy scoop for the Sox. I’m not one to usually correct writers on here (and i’ve been an avid supporter and fan of MLBTR since the beginning), but i wouldn’t necessarily say “his production tanked in 2019.” He had half the ABs and was actually on pace to best a lot of his 2018 numbers.
Author clearly stated why he said Munoz numbers tanked. The lack of walks led to a low OBP. Average isn’t everything
It was an absolutely boneheaded move to leave camp without notifying anyone or getting permission but it’s almost like it’s a wash because everyone was sent packing a couple weeks later. lol
Munoz can play several different positions but I wouldn’t say he plays any of them particularly well. I do think he was the emergency catcher as well last season.
He’ll end up on the 40 man at some point and up with the club. I think his bat is better than it showed last season for sure.
I’m sure you never did anything boneheaded when you were under 30! Right?? You are SO MUCH BETTER a person!!!! Does that make you feel like a big man???
The difference is that if someone under 30 in any other profession just decides not to show up for work one day, they don’t have a job and they will struggle to find another one.
I would bolt Cardinals camp in a minute. Could you imagine having Biff and Goober as your bosses? Add in Dimwitt and Pinocchio and you have boredom times 4.
Let me know when you get that letter about joining the cardinals camp…I’m sure you’re almost there…
One oddity I saw in his stats-he had 7 intentional walks in 2018 vs 0 in 2019. That caused a little bump in his walk rate
Yeah he hit before pitchers a lot, the NL is such a garbage league they let pitchers IBB real MLB-quality hitters because they know the equivalent of a 50 year old drunk guy from the stands is going to try and “hit” after him. This is why the NL is s sham league until they grow up and get the DH.
Ahhh…eh why waist my breath, keep spewing hot gas strike.
Another malcontent for the Red Sox
I can’t believe he already has another opportunity after the way he handled everything.
I suppose with the willingness to play talented players that made much worse personal choices (domestic abuse for example), I suppose this shouldn’t be a surprise. Winning trumps most for a lot of MLB teams.
yay! my team signed a bad unproductive player at positions they dont need filled, good job boys! next i want you to sign roger clemens , wade boggs and juan marichal
Still better numbers than Peraza.
I’m no Sox fan, but this is a good signing. This guy can flat-out hit, and he can play multiple positions.
As a Cards fan I wish Yairo well. Just because there was a little acrimony in the split doesn’t make he or the Cards jerks. it happens in life.
I hope he does well for the Sox but don’t get your hopes up too high. He is a ML hitter, but around league average. And he plays a lot of positions but none particularly well. He is a fine utility player but doesn’t project to be a starter on a good team.