TODAY: The Red Sox released Cron and informed Rodriguez that he made the roster, according to Alex Speier of the Boston Globe (X link).
MARCH 22: First baseman C.J. Cron and left-hander Joely Rodriguez have both exercised the uniform opt-out provision in their minor league contracts with the Red Sox, reports Alex Speier of the Boston Globe. Both players were Article XX(B) free agents — six-plus years of service time, finished the season on a major league roster or injured list — who signed minor league contracts and were thus granted a trio of mandatory opt-out opportunities: five days prior to Opening Day (today), May 1 and June 1. The Red Sox will now have 48 hours to either put Cron and/or Rodriguez on the 40-man roster. They’ll have to release either player if they decide against carrying him on the Opening Day roster.
Cron, 34, has four seasons of 25-plus homers under his belt and was consistently an above-average hitter from 2014-22. Back and neck injuries tanked his 2023 season, limiting him to 278 plate appearances with a .248/.295/.434 slash, but he has a strong track record of hitting for power — with largely even platoon splits. From 2018-22, Cron piled up 2290 plate appearances and hit .260/.331/.490 with 116 home runs. He’s only had 15 plate appearances this spring, during which he’s 2-for-11 with three walks and two strikeouts. The Red Sox are set at first base and DH with Triston Casas and Masataka Yoshida, but Cron could serve as a right-handed complement/insurance to either or perhaps some right-handed pop off the bench.
Rodriguez, 32, was with the Sox in 2023 but pitched just 11 innings due to oblique, shoulder and hip injuries that combined to result in three different stints on the injured list. He posted a 6.55 ERA in his short time on the mound, striking out 27.5% of his opponents against an 11.8% walk rate and 45.2% ground-ball rate.
It wasn’t a strong year overall for Rodriguez, but the lefty has posted far better numbers over the three preceding seasons in his return from an excellent two-year stint in Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball. From 2020-22, Rodriguez pitched 109 1/3 frames between the Rangers, Yankees and Mets, working to a 4.28 ERA with even more encouraging secondary marks. Rodriguez fanned 25.5% of his opponents in that time and induced grounders at a huge 55.7% clip. His 10.3% walk rate was still a couple ticks north of the league average, but the lefty offered an enticing blend of missed bats and grounders while excelling at keeping the ball in the park (0.58 HR/9). Metrics like FIP (3.14) and SIERA (3.51) were rather bullish on his work.
Rodriguez has had a strong showing this spring, holding opponents to a pair of runs on nine hits and three walks with nine strikeouts in seven innings of relief. He’s also recorded a massive 61.9% ground-ball rate. He seems like he has a decent shot to make the roster, and even if the Sox don’t add him, the left-hander should command interest elsewhere.
Bye.. Rodriquez isn’t any better than multiple AAAA guys already slated to throw 1IP relief at Worcester and at this point of Cron’s career? Dalbec is much cheaper, plays better defense at 1b AND can play averagish 3b as well.
These 2 think a mlb job is out there, about to be rudely awakened.
Cron is way better than dalbec
That’s a really low bar to clear
Boston disagrees.
“The Red Sox will now have 48 hours to either put Cron and/or Rodriguez on the 40-man roster.”
Nothing is decided yet.
Crohn released, Rodriguez made the club.
Pfft not…Bobby D will do great in 24
Oh man really can’t take another year of blobby dalbec!
Most metrics have Dalbec average to below average defensively at 1b.
He does have a solid history at hitting LHP. That’s probably his saving grace.
That’s probably his saving grace.
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That and he is a lot younger. He’s unlikely to get a lot better, but there is a chance.
Metrics aren’t really all telling. not saying Dalbec is a GG guy at 1st, but plays the position better than Cron at this point of his career. Not to mention the other position Cron plays is DH. Dalbec has played a bunch of 3b and handful of games at 2b in AAA. Paying a 34yo Cron 2m-ish isn’t a smart way to go.. Unless he wants to go to the minors and wait to be called up after he performs.
not saying Dalbec is anything special, but
1) Cheaper
2) plays multiple positions
3) Much younger, nearly 7y
Mas guapo.
He’s been both the Offensive and Defensive player of the year…he’s not at all as good defensively over Bobby D
Rodriguez is having a good spring and Murphy might be done for the year. The Sox lineup needs the power Cron is capable of producing. It’s very possible this is a formality and the Sox add both to the roster
Yeah I won’t be surprised if at least Joely is added, he’s been better than Lutgue in spring
It’s not just adding them to the roster, it’s dropping someone else from the roster to make room for them. Not sure either is clearly better than any player currently on the 40-man roster.
Not really. Both Murphy and Giolito need to be moved to the 60 day IL anyway
Ok that solves the 40-man roster issue but I don’t think either has minor league options left and neither is worth giving an active roster spot.
You realize the Red Sox have all of 1 lefty(Brennen Bernadino) in the pen right now?
Hendricks, Giolito, and possibly Murphy will be moved to the 60-day DL as soon as a spot is needed, so two and maybe a third non-40 man roster player (non roster invites) can make the 26-man roster without the need to DFA anyone.
Campbell is very effective vs lefties, so that can make 2 sort of and keeping retreads like rodriquez and possibly chase Anderson, who just cost the team regular season games because they have no ML options is plain wrong. They remind me of Ryan Weber types. No talent, just bodies to be called upon. my 2c is always better to add to the 40 man roster talent who can help the team (this case LH Boozer), or not have sent down Zach kelly in the 1st place. Both have worlds more talent than the AAAA guys who will probably make the team.
Rodriguez actually has a good career FIP, except for last season. It’s worth giving him a try.
Icon – it all has to do with accepting the realities of what senior brass dictates (kennedy/henry/etc) and looking at what you’ve got to work with.
Rather than just advocate for an idea world (which has its place, don’t get me wrong) sometimes you’ve got to ask yourself what’s the best thing we can do out of what we actually have to work with.
GASox – What do you think of the Red Sox moving the 20th anniversary celebration to Opening Day just to sell tickets?
And I hope G38 shows up. No matter what his mouth has done the past few years, they don’t win in ’04 without him.
Fever – I think it’s both good, and, dangerous.
A little while ago local TV affiliates interviewed bostonians, including in the Fens, about the opening day, who they could name that was on the team, etc. And, much like the ticket sales have shown, there was tons of fan apathy and lack of any passion for the current team and roster.
Combining the Wakefields’ tribute and the ’04 reunion into opening day, it shows the brass is taking notice of fan displeasure and apathy – much like the $11 bleacher seats on 3rd party ticket sites they’re doubtlessly aware of.
So, it’s good that brass SEES there’s a problem, and, via these gimmicks is attempting to stave off the further embarrassment of a low-attended opening day.
But, that’s a dangerous blades edge to be teetering on. It could work well if it loosens the pursestrings for *quality* roster upgrades. However, it can also just as easily spur overreaction like happened when they gave that TERRIBLE extension to Devers. The team doesn’t need another albatross deal that risks hamstringing the future.
GASox – I think the Wakefield tribute is appropriate on Opening Day, especially with the team dedicating the season to them. They did a nice tribute before the Grapefruit League opener too. Sure some players won’t want to travel to both the OD ceremony and another ’04 ceremony later in the season, but it’s nice to give them the option and it doubles the odds of each player showing up for at least ONE of the ceremonies.
And yes, I assure you that ANYTHING impacting the bottom line they SEE ;O)
BTW – I am really anxious for Forbes’ 2023 numbers, should be any day now.
Keep Rodriguez to use and burn when you need to, ditch cron, he hasn’t shown anything better than dalbec who is at least generally healthy.
I don’t understand why the Sox aren’t having Dalbec spend some time learning how to play the outfield.
Yaz – What would the point be? Dalbec can only hit LHP just like Ref. Even without Ref, they still have 5 OF’ers.
You sure know your. stuff.
Oh no! ….Anyway…
I’d bet some decent money Cron winds up with Colorado again
Bryant is going to be entrenched at 1b and they gave blackmon 13 mil to dh…how much money? Lol
Blackmon is 37, Bryant won’t stay healthy and the Rockies are the Rockies. I’m not saying it makes sense but Colorado had two guys but 15+ HR last year. I could see them doing it
Michael Toglia and Elehuris Montero can replace either and for far less than it would take to bring back Cron
Entrenched on and off for 51 games.
Touche lol
Oriole’s Mountcastle sure could use some help taking on the great LF wall of Baltimore.
Orioles are doing DH by committee. Need a right side thumper to take it over (with Rutschman subbing him when not catching). Hey CJ, get your hacks in at OPACY.
Don’t see it. They havre Bryant as their first baseman and Montero as his backup but I could be wrong.
Cron is the only player on these opt lists today that I’d take a flier on. If I were let’s say with the Savannah Bananas I’d bring him in for a look. Dom Smith I’d be done with. I remember when he was an amateur in So cal and all the hype behind him. He had a steady bat with gap power so much for that.
Dalbec needs to start at 1b/3b vs every LH SP with one of ,Casas or Raffy getting their day off or DHing to find out if he can be that RH platoon player once and for all.
“to find out if he can be that RH platoon player once and for all.”
Yes, almost 1000 PA’s over the last four years hasn’t really let anyone see what he can do
33 HRs as a non platoon player in his 1st 497 AB’s before management decided he had too many K’s to be a full time regular. They never gave him a try as a RH platoon player.
I wonder if Boston essentially swaps out Cron with Mike Ford as a bench bat, given the spring he had.
Angels should pick up Cron. Rather have him as DH/1B option than Sanó.
Cron barely hit over 100 after he got traded back to the Angels. I’d rather let Adell DH
Sano is going to be the surprise pickup of the year.
As a Red Sox fan this is about the most promising and best time of year in the 2020’s. The Dumpster is filling up league wide with opt outs and releases, and we have the ability to dive in full throttle. I think we can pull a starting rotation out of it. Nearly .500 here we come.
70 – 92. Bo0k it Mazuhara!
Padres need options at DH. Cron would fit there and would be cheaper than Belt, although that would be a good platoon for them
I agree and they still have a spot on the 40 man
CJ still playing in tonight’s game….
C you on the
J ankees
Joely is a waste. He has always walked too many. Ownership SUCKS!
Anthony Franco commanded that the picture not be of Cron even though the article is about him just to show how virtuous the website has become.
In a hundred years, when they finally manage to reattach Ted’s head and revive him, his first words will be, ‘What on earth were the 2024 Red Sox trying to achieve?'”
“Can you smell the bat burning when you foul a pitch straight back?”
‘What on earth were the 2024 Red Sox trying to achieve?’”
=========================
With a payroll 50% higher than the RS, Joe D might ask the same of the NYY.
we may be spending poorly, but at least we are trying.
When a long time Yankee fan starts to feel pity for the Red Sox fans base, something isn’t right….no?
I think that cuts both ways. In fact, there are probably fans that hate both teams, and still miss the rivalry.
The head alone could probably hit better than some of the guys today. But I did not know the head was still waiting. I thought some years back there was a custody fight by his family members over the head. I don’t know what the outcome was. Some wanted to get rid of it. Others wanted to keep it on ice. no joke.
That’s not CJ Cron in the thumbnail, MLBTR. Don’t give the bottomfeeders free fodder. Tighten up.
Maybe he’s identifying as a pitcher with a serious tan?
Their original article was about both Cron and Joely Rodriguez. As they typically do on this site they simply added an update to the original article. And the original used a picture of Joely, not of Cron.
Wonder if my Padres will consider him for a bench gig. Seems like he was always punishing us no matter where he was playing.
Smith and Cron are both big league. They just need the right opportunity. Cron is a Ham and Egger plus. Smith a regular ham and Egger. All teams can use guys like this on their Teams..
Cron is more like Taylor Ham and Smith more like Pork Roll.
But Joely Rodriguez is more like Scrapple.
The Yankees should take a flyer on Cron. nothing to lose. their first baseman is currently questionable for the beginning of the season, and the back up is also injured.
Cron won’t take a flyer on the Yankees, though. There are no ABs available once players are healthy. He will want regular playing time. DH/1B in Cleveland would be much more attractive.
Insane – Remember at the start of the offseason when Red Sox Nation wanted just two reasonable things, a stud SP and a stud LHR?
What we got instead is Cooper Criswell and Joely Rodriguez.
(I’m still hoping for Monty, but I know it’s a longshot)
Big mistake…..
First 10 on the road and we have a nasty habit of starting slow under Cora lately….. time to get the lead out boys!