Utilityman Niko Goodrum has opted out of his minor league deal with the Red Sox and is now a free agent, reports Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com (Twitter link). He’d been with their Triple-A club in Worcester.
Goodrum, 31, has appeared in parts of six big league seasons, spending time with the Twins, Tigers and Astros since his 2017 big league debut in Minnesota. He’s a career .226/.299/.389 hitter in 1531 big league plate appearances, and he was particularly solid with Detroit in 2018-19, when he received semi-regular work all around the diamond. During those two seasons, Goodrum slashed .247/.318/.427 with 28 homers and 24 steals in 964 trips to the plate. Statcast credits Goodrum as a plus defender at both middle infield spots and a passable option in the outfield as well.
It’s been a strong season for Goodrum down in Worcester, where he’s turned in a .280/.448/.440 batting line with more walks than strikeouts. The fleet-footed switch-hitter has swatted eight homers, swiped seven bases and drawn a walk in a sensational 23.1% of his plate appearances through his first 65 games (286 plate appearances).
Despite that production, it seems the Sox will allow Goodrum to seek out other opportunities in free agency rather than add him to the big league roster themselves. That registers as a moderate surprise, particularly given the presence of Trevor Story, Pablo Reyes, Yu Chang and Adalberto Mondesi on the injured list. Boston is currently deploying Christian Arroyo, David Hamilton and Enrique Hernandez in the middle infield and has had issues both offensively and defensively in the middle infield throughout the year.
The Braves might want to take a flyer on him and try him out at Gwinnett !
I’m not understanding this move. Veteran, will check a lot of boxes. I know there’s not a future in Boston for him, but as a stopgap, you could do worse. My other guess is that maybe they’ve released him for an opportunity elsewhere, which happens a lot with minor league veterans at this point in the season.
Chang is about ready to be reinstated and apparently Story isn’t much behind him. Thus, there was no path to the big leagues in Boston
Thank you for the insight. And, agree. Dewey belongs.
But Dewey, Story would be a DH-only, not able to field and throw yet. So really it’s just Chang returning.
The team would be stronger trading duvall, flipping Kiki back to the OF where he belongs, and having called Niko up to be middle infield depth.
And, really, I dont see the point of bringing Story back as the DH either. There’s better dh options seeing how the roster is cluttered with DH types who hit better for more power. Why rush Story who you’re stuck with for a few more years?
GASox – Also keep in mind, in your scenario Story can’t DH because if Hernandez goes back to CF then Yoshida will have to be the DH. Because there’s no way Dugie or Duran will not play the OF. Did you see the game Duran had yesterday? 5 hits including 4 doubles, playing solid defense, great baserunning, he’s as exciting as a young Ellsbury.
Also BTW, if Story or Yoshida DH then where does Turner play? He has to play every day, and you know Casas will be playing every day if he continues to hit like he has been. I don’t think Devers will be getting too many days off.
Also just want to say it’s great to see you posting a lot again, hopefully that’s a sign you’re feeling better.
Really they need to make a couple trades to clear some roster jam, get some kids more playing time.
It was the same thing I complained about during the offseason – they were building crazy depth at a position (dh) that you didn’t need it, the depth wasn’t balanced.
As far as the posting volume, unfortunately, I think I feel worse than before it started. Its just that i find myself laid up, but not drowsy. Down about 30# so far. BUT….They tell me my numbers are improving, meanwhile, the result in the real world is the opposite. Sounds like certain baseball teams over-relying on analytics doesn’t it?
I appreciate the various well-wishes I’ve gotten here from time to time though. I also think there’s been relatively few complete snafu screw-ups where memory related side effects have had me make a basic dumb conceptual error. So, I beg for indulgence from the community because I think posting, well, it’s a great way for me to keep track of whether I’m losing some mental sharpness if that makes sense.
But back to baseball, if you traded JT, trade Duvall, throw in dalbec, and try to get some pitching NOW, not at the deadline using the prospects you can get from JT and Adam, if you fall further from contention you could still flip Paxton, your new pitching if it’s a rental, and maybe even Martin/Jansen in 3 and a half weeks. An OF of Verdugo in LF, Kiki in CF, and Duran in RF, hoping Ceddane can displace Kiki next year? That could be a nice OF alignment, and, Yoshi can DH where he belongs for a bit.
My guess is they’ve decided he isn’t capable of playing SS at ML level. Otherwise I feel like he should have been up a long time ago. Unfortunately due to Hernandez being inexplicably horrendous at SS they don’t really need any more 2B/CF types they need a SS only and appears they didn’t feel he could do it. Now if I’m wrong and he can play solid SS — it’s pretty inexplicable why they wouldn’t have given him a shot to this point seeing as David Hamilton is currently the starting SS…
Jeff, you kind of hit on the perplexing part though.
Kiki HAS been horrendous. So, if you’re willing to just release the guy anyways, why not let him audition and see if he has something? He really can’t be worse than Kiki was who both couldn’t field cleanly and wasn’t hitting while in that position either.
It’s hard to see the downside when you’re willing to let him walk anyways. What do you lose by just looking at him to see what he can do?
I appreciate the answers. Health issues have sort of sidelined me this year, so I’m not keeping up with teams like I normally would. My guess is that it’s still another shot with another team. It happens a lot at this point in the season , especially with AAA veterans.
Niko was runner up for the gold glove at SS for Detroit. Its been his bat, not his glove, that has held him back.
Because it’s not just “letting him audition” it’s dropping someone else from the 40-man roster to give him that shot. And once they drop that other player there’s no getting them back if Goodrum doesn’t present an improvement. Most teams won’t make that move for a 30-year-old journeyman player.
king – You’re right, except most teams don’t have a 40-man loaded with garbage players that are either untalented or injured.
Just keep plugging away SAS, it’s all you can do. If there’s some time, and you get some enjoyment with an ebb and flow of diving in here, go for it.
Ken – my numbers may be off, but, I think right now boston only has 38 guys on the 40 man when you account for the 60-day IL players.
What I advocate for was, before rushing story off the 60-day, audition this guy in the same roster spot you otherwise give Story, or even Chang. There’s no time restriction requiring Story to try to DH. And you’ve got Chang coming. So, use the same spot you otherwise let Story take. If goodrum falls flat? Release hum. Then give Story that spot.
You wouldn’t be releasing someone you can’t get back (or risking them through waivers) that you aren’t already planning to do the same for either Chang or Story.
GASox – As of yesterday I counted 39. It’s been that number since Chang and Schreiber were moved to the 60 Day about 12 days ago.
Wow, Goodrum is such a fantastically useful player he just signed with a KBO team because no MLB team was interested in him. But yeah, keep up with the BS about this.
The path should have been to DFA Kiké.
@Sas on this one.
Right now he’s a a great fielder who can play short and hitting well in triple A.. He’s a good match to fill a big hole. Making smart moves isn’t allowed by the Red Sox FO.
He’d be the best player on the athletics currently
Franchy Cordero and Bobby Dalbec also hit well at AAA. Goodrum is a lifetime .226/.299/.389 hitter in MLB. I don’t think it’s a big loss.
Suit – Don’t forget JBJ who always mashed at AAA and then dropped off the face of the earth in MLB aside from random streaks.
I appreciate the answers. Health issues have sort of sidelined me this year, so I’m not keeping up with teams like I normally would. My guess is that it’s still another shot with another team. It happens a lot at this point in the season , especially with AAA veterans.
Well, it was a good run, Goodrum.
I’d think he’d be a natural fit for……
The Pirates!
Maybe he’s not a good dude in the clubhouse? Of course, if that was the case, then why would they have signed him in the first place…
I never heard a hint of that sort of thing when he was in Detroit. I just think he’s got a small ceiling and there isn’t much more to get out of him than what everyone’s already seen. His AB’s were rather frustrating but he was adequate just about anywhere in the field – with one exception. The Tigers missed a lot of double plays when he was playing middle infield.
Lol – Godrum choose to opt out which was an appropriate strategic move for a guy with base talent & absolutely no place to go in Boston – It’s a lock Goodrum will find his way onto the varsity with another team in need of bench depth .
Cooper – Too much dead weight on the 40-man roster.
Bleier
Dalbec
Reyes
2 Hamiltons
Garza
Kluber
Ort
Rodriguez
Bloom needs a 60-man roster to help him hoard all the non-contributors.
Given all the recent pitching injuries none of the pitchers you mentioned are going to be dropped from the 40-man roster at the moment for a non-factor player like Goodrum.
As for the position players you list both Hamiltons despite the fact that Caleb Hamilton is one of the 2 ACTIVE catchers on the roster. So unless you thing Wong can catch every day without a rest and is impervious to injury suggesting Caleb Hamilton is expendable is just flat out ignorant.
King – Where did I propose dropping any of those players for Niko?
That’s right, I didn’t.
What I wrote is they are taking up so much space on the 40 man without deserving to be there, that’s why players like Niko aren’t given a chance.
It has NOTHING to do with being on the active roster or not. Apparently you don’t even realize Garza and Ort and David Hamilton are all on the active roster too.
Moral of the story, people who have comprehension problems shouldn’t be calling others ignorant.
Fever, maybe you can double check for me, but, I dont think the 40 man is full is it? Don’t the recent additions to the 60-day IL drop the sox below 40 where they have room without cutting anyone, at least for a bit?
GASox – Posted the answer up above before seeing your question. Haha!
Yes it’s at 39. I’m guessing with Whitlock likely going on the IL and Paxton missing some time soon, they will be adding a pitcher. Nobody has been named yet to start today.
Thanks, I thought it was under. So the point remains, a good FO would at least see goodrum called up to see how he might stabilize the SS position.
Even if you got a short hot streak from him and DFA when he cools off, it’s something out of a player you were gonna burn anyways.
GASox – As I suspected they filled the final 40 man spot with a pitcher, Tayler Scott. Gotta have literally 21 pitchers on the 40 man.
Six pitchers were used yesterday, look where they all were on Opening Day. It truly is 2020 all over again.
Bernardino – Tacoma (Mariners AAA)
Ort – Red Sox
Murphy – Worcester
Garza – Salt Lake City (Angels AAA)
Walter – Worcester
Scott – Oklahoma City (Dodgers AAA)
Twins fans would love to have you back, Niko! Just do it, Minny!
Tiger fans largely know why Boston didn’t promote him, albeit his AAA numbers in 2023 are surprisingly robust.
At this point, we Tiger fans would kill for an average defender and .600 OPS playing short for us. Niko, please come home to Detroit. We’ll give you short, move Baez to 3rd, and then lose a little less.