Red Sox Reportedly Bolster Infield Depth With Another Gold Glove Winner
For the second time in as many days, the Boston Red Sox have reportedly added a Gold Glove infielder.
After reportedly agreeing to a one-year, $6 million deal with veteran utilityman and former Gold Glove winner Isiah Kiner-Falefa on Wednesday, the Red Sox continued to bolster their infield depth on Thursday. According to MassLive’s Chris Cotillo, Boston reportedly signed Brendan Rodgers to a Minor League contract.
Rodgers, 29, was the third overall pick in the 2015 MLB Draft by the Colorado Rockies. He debuted in 2019 and spent his first six seasons with the Rockies, where he was teammates with Boston’s current shortstop, Trevor Story, through 2021.
Offensively, he peaked at a .798 OPS and 15 home runs in 2021. However, he struggled with the Houston Astros last year in his first season away from Coors Field, batting just .191/.266/.278 with two homers, 11 RBI and 0.0 WAR in 43 games.
The Red Sox are hoping he can rediscover his swing this year. As a right-handed batter, playing at Fenway Park could help if he makes the team.
Even if his bat doesn’t fully recover, he’s still a solid defender. Rodgers won the 2022 NL Gold Glove Award at second base and was worth a career-best 4.3 WAR that year.
Overall, this looks like another nice depth signing by Boston. Rodgers has the potential to be in the mix at second base along with Romy Gonzalez, David Hamilton, Nick Sogard and Kiner-Falefa, giving the Red Sox another option there.