Red Sox Sign CJ Cron

Here's Dalbec's competition.

Hmm, no positional versatility at all. Not sure I see the point really, but whatever, it's a minor league deal.

He may be washed up with the bat at this point, but I'd probably think he has a better chance at re-discovering it than Dalbec at this point. The only drawback though is that he can only play first base. Dalbec is passable at 3B. But to be honest - between Hamilton, Yorke, Sogard, R Gonzalez, they've probably got any injury issues covered. 

Always down for RHH pop

They didn't want to give anything up for him, I'm sure he'll find a home, once the price is 0

Cron seems to be a decent defender at first which is nice. I know bobby can play over there but i remember him being a bad defender at first and while 1b isn’t the most important thing in the world, it would be nice to have someone competent playing over there when casas isn’t.

So, Jobu no can hit the curveball.

Dalbec’s strikeout rate vs Triple A lefties last year - 30.6%, per his SoxProspects stat page…. (See advanced stats and filters.) Cron, despite his injuries last year, had a 23% strikeout rate in general (which matches his career rate). I don’t think either of these guys are going to see all that much playing time if they make the roster to be honest - Casas is the full time 1B and they want Yoshida to get plenty of DH time. But at least with Cron he might be useful as a pinch hitter for like Wong or McGuire against elite bullpen arms that Bobby is just going to strikeout against every time?

That said, Cron played one game after August 15th last year. Do we even know (at age 34) if he’s even healthy? He would not be the first middling 1B/DH guy with power to become washed up in his mid-30’s.

It’s obviously a minor league deal, but does this close the book on a Duvall return?

Unless they trade an outfielder (or for some of these guys even if they do) what is the opportunity for Duvall, Solano or Longoria? Solano would mean you dump Reyes - except Solano shouldn't be playing SS at 36 years old. Longoria has never played first base and is 38. His role on the Red Sox would be limited to pinch hitting. And Duvall is not going to accept a reserve role. I don't see why any of those three would want to sign in Boston for the role that is maybe available to Cron.

It’s a minor league signing for a guy with a career 109 wRC+

Not sure how anyone could complain or be overly excited about this. A no risk potential reward signing

I feel like this shows why it’s silly to worry about future lineups being too lefty-heavy. Guys like Casas and Devers still hit lefties well, and righty bench bats are not hard to find. Cron isn’t the most inspiring righty, but he also costs nothing.