The Royals and infielder Abraham Toro have agreed to a minor league deal, reports Daniel Álvarez-Montes of El Extrabase. The Republik Sports client also receives an invite to big league camp in spring training.
It’s an early birthday present for Toro, who turns 29 tomorrow. The trilingual Québécois infielder has appeared in the past seven big league seasons as a part-time, multi-positional player. He was with the Red Sox in 2025 but he was outrighted off the roster in August. He became a free agent at season’s end, which allowed the Royals to sign him to this deal.
He has 1,582 plate appearances over those seven campaigns. His 17.1% strikeout rate is a few ticks better than average but his 6.4% walk rate is on the low side. He has a combined .223/.285/.356 line over that time, which translates to an 81 wRC+, indicating he’s been 19% worse than league average.
It’s possible there’s a bit more in the bat, as he’s put up more intriguing numbers in the minors. Dating back to the start of 2021, he has 799 minor league plate appearances with a 12.6% walk rate, 19.1% strikeout rate, .286/.380/.474 line and 120 wRC+.
Defensively, he has logged hundreds of big league innings at the non-shortstop infield positions, with brief looks in the outfield corners as well. The Royals are set on the left side of the infield with Bobby Witt Jr. at shortstop and Maikel Garcia at third. On the other side of the dirt, Vinnie Pasquantino has first base locked down. Second base is a bit less settled since Jonathan India and Michael Massey both struggled in 2025.
Kansas City currently has Nick Loftin and Tyler Tolbert on the roster as potential bench infielders but both are still optionable. If the Royals would prefer those guys to get regular playing time, they could be sent to Triple-A. The Royals have added Kevin Newman and now Toro as veteran infielders on non-roster pacts who could potentially take over a bench role. If Toro cracks the roster, he is out of options. If he’s holding a roster spot at the end of the year, he can be retained beyond 2026 via arbitration.
Photo courtesy of Brian Fluharty, Imagn Images
Nothing special for the Red Sox but he did help hold down the fort for a while. Best of luck to him going forward.
hayzee – It still blows my mind they didn’t have a qualified backup for first base. They should have told Raffy to learn first base years prior.
The DR manager for the last WBC wanted Raffy to play first base, but Cora refused to allow it. Complete mismanagement by the Sox, as usual.
I wish Toro well, but his .188 BA, .254 OBP and .509 OPS from mid-June thru his release in mid-August absolutely killed the Red Sox offense.
Devers would’ve made a big stink about “I’m a third baseman” if they had tried to get him to learn 1B sooner. I don’t think that was ever a realistic option for him in Boston.
Exactly Meow. Cora thought he was protecting his player. Can’t blame Cora for that.
Meow – Raffy wanted to play 1B in the WBC.
Cora wouldn’t allow it.
I’m not saying they should have moved him there permanently, but they should have had hm learn the position. It’s a natural progression, moving from 3B to 1B. One of the easiest transitions to make in MLB.
dewey – Look at all the players Cora has played out of position.
Even ERod was seriously injured because Cora had Swihart playing first base. July 14, 2018 …. during a 5-start experiment at first base.
Cora doesn’t protect players.
I don’t want Red Sox players in the WBC at any position so I can’t really fault Cora for not wanting him to try and learn a new position then. WBC is a great way to get a key guy injured.
So FPG blames the Red Sox for trying Swihart at 1B, but he also blames the Red Sox for not trying Devers at 1B.
Meow – I agree with you there, more so with regard to pitchers though. Diaz missed the entire year by celebrating a win in the WBC.
In general it’s not good to ramp up so early in the year, but first base is the easiest and safest position to play.
Let’s cross our fingers as several key Sox players are participating.
Whitlock
Duran
Rafaela
Abreu
Bello has a strong desire to play, but the Red Sox have yet to give approval.
Mayer has a strong desire to play, but the Red Sox are waiting to see how the wrist is doing.
The one who worries me the most, Chapman wants to pitch for …. Great Britain. The Red Sox still need to give approval first though.
FPG – im glad Toro landed somewhere, i dont wish him ill, but shows what the league (Breslow aside) thinks he is.
Unfortunately, I just finished reading this, so im not in a good mood
bosoxinjection.com/giants-gm-reminds-red-sox-why-t…
Sad – Despite all the people here trashing his ability to play first base, saying he is only a DH, saying he should burn his glove (as Cora and Breslow said), the truth is ever since he was a teenager he was projected to be a solid first baseman. Guys who have made the transition said it. Loomer had a long video about all the reasons why he would be a good first baseman.
The Red Sox horribly mismanaged him. Refused to let him learn the position until they insulted him by saying he was forever done as a fielder.
Like I said earlier, if he’s healthy don’t be surprised if he bangs another 35+ homers with an .850+ OPS while playing above average defense at first base. And just like with Sale, I’m sure people here will cry “He wouldn’t have done that in Boston” which of course is total crap.
And one thing nobody else mentioned, the guy is super friendly and loves to talk with opposing players. He enjoys the opportunity to chat with every guy who reaches first base.
He reminds me of Dom Smith. Not a guy I feel comfortable as a primary 1B, but definitely a guy who exceeded expectations and can be a capable backup.
It was a tough job for Toro, who had played only 90 innings at the position (+297 in the minors) to be forced into a starting first base role. He’s been pretty good defensively at 3rd and decent at 2nd. He’s great at making contact but with below average power and high chase rates, will never hit well enough to play 1st regularly.
Hope he gets another shot. He may not be a starter but I definitely think he’s a big league caliber player.
2022 to 2025: Total WAR = 0.0
Use Toro to mow a lawn, that’s no bull.
Classic Quad-A player.
You give his quads an A, what about his hamstrings?
Too bad he didn’t sign with Texas or the Angels (the two teams in the AL West he’s not played for).
TIL that the number of languages Toro can speak is triple the number of defensive positions he can play.
Sounds like a guy who could be very successful after his playing days are over
Seemed like a great attitude guy and good team player when he was with Boston this year. Numbers weren’t there and he’s probably never an everyday MLB player at this point, but yeah I could see him transitioning to a coaching role in the future for sure.
And there goes the big bat Breslow had his eyes on!
There were a few clutch moments for Toro with the Sox last season, he just got overexposed playing every day. Good for him getting another chance in KC
Another classic example of the cheap Red Sox letting good player just walk away who did very well for them, not to mention they need a first baseman .Because tristan cass can’t even hit the ball out of the infield. All these websites say they’re gonna make the big trades. Forget it, the owner is just too cheap. He is not gonna give out a 4 or 5 year contract and $150 billion to a 30 something year old ball player. There’s no excuse now because he just sold the pittsburgh penny’s , where I don’t know how many millions of dollars spend some money you bleep , bleep cheap bleep when Henry goes to buy his morning coffee. Has, to scrape the cobwebs off his wallet to get to his $2.Unbelievable How cheap this guy is