Tag: minor-league deal

Red Sox purchase contract of righty Danny Kirwin from Oakland Ballers

The Red Sox have purchased the contract of right-hander Danny Kirwin from the Oakland Ballers of the independent Pioneer League, per an announcement from the club.

Kirwin will take a physical in Fort Myers, Fla. on Wednesday and is expected to join Boston’s Low-A affiliate in Salem, Va. once his signing becomes official, according to The Athletic’s Melissa Lockard. He becomes the first member of the newly-launched Ballers to have his contract purchased by a major-league organization.

Kirwin, 24, originally signed with the Ballers in December after spending five years at Rider University. Despite posting a 2.32 ERA with 67 strikeouts to 36 walks over 25 appearances (50 1/3 innings) and earning MAAC Relief Pitcher of the Year honors in 2023, the hard-throwing righty went undrafted.

Instead, Kirwin pitched for the Mahoning Valley Scrappers of the MLB Draft League and the Tri-City Chili Peppers of the Coastal Plain League last summer. He then spent his winter working out at Tread Athletics in North Carolina, where he saw his velocity increase considerably.

Last month, Lucas Still — a performance coach at Tread Athletics — posted a video to X (formerly known as Twitter) of Kirwin sitting between 95-97 mph and topping out at 97.7 mph with his fastball while mixing in a slider, changeup, and cutter. Still also posted a pitch metrics report from a recent bullpen session that had Kirwin at 95.1 mph with his four-seamer, 91.8 mph with his cutter, 85 mph with his sweeper/slider, 93.5 mph with his sinker, and 85.5 mph with his changeup.

This past Saturday, Ballers manager Micah Franklin tweeted out a video of Kirwin throwing up to 98 mph during one of his bullpens. The Red Sox, as noted by Lockard, caught wind of that video and wasted little time in reaching out and securing the 6-foot-2, 205-pound hurler’s services.

(Picture of Danny Kirwin: Rider University Athletics)

Former Red Sox OF prospect Albertson Asigen signs minor-league deal with White Sox

Former Red Sox outfield prospect Albertson Asigen signed a minor-league contract with the White Sox on Saturday, per MiLB.com’s transactions log. He has been assigned to Chicago’s Low-A affiliate in Kannapolis, N.C.

Asigen, 22, was released on Wednesday as part of a larger series of minor-league cuts made by the Red Sox. The Dominican Republic native originally signed with Boston for just $10,000 as an international free agent coming out of Puerto Plata in October 2019.

Because the COVID-19 pandemic wiped out the 2020 minor-league season, Asigen did not make his professional debut until July 2021. He spent the first two years of his pro career in the Dominican Summer League, batting .297/.397/.402 with seven doubles, seven triples, two home runs, 39 RBIs, 56 runs scored, 16 stolen bases, 42 walks, and 55 strikeouts over 77 total games spanning 310 plate appearances.

Last June, Asigen made the jump stateside by opening his 2023 campaign in the rookie-level Florida Complex League. The right-handed hitter appeared in 14 games for Boston’s Fort Myers-based affiliate, going 14-for-42 (.333) with two doubles, one triple, five RBIs, 12 runs scored, seven stolen bases, six walks, and five strikeouts before receiving a promotion to Low-A Salem in early July.

With the Salem Red Sox, Asigen slashed .318/.436/.434 with five doubles, two triples, two homers, 12 runs driven in, 22 runs scored, 13 stolen bases, 24 walks, and 42 strikeouts across 42 games (156 plate appearances). Among the 151 hitters Carolina League hitters who made at least 150 trips to the plate last year, he ranked 20th in walk rate (15.4 percent), second in batting average, third in on-base percentage, 20th in slugging percentage, 10th in OPS (.870), 22nd in speed score (7.6), first in line-drive rate (31 percent), and fourth in wRC+ (153), per FanGraphs.

On the other side of the ball, Asigen saw playing time at all three outfield positions while with Salem. The stocky, 5-foot-10, 175-pounder logged 170 innings in left, 15 innings in center, and 157 1/3 innings in right. He recorded a total of four outfield assists while committing three errors in 57 defensive chances.

Despite producing relatively strong offensive numbers last season, it is worth noting that — between the FCL and Salem — Asigen posted a .434 batting average on balls put in play, which suggests that he may have been the beneficiary of good luck throughout the year. That could have played a role in the Red Sox electing to cut Asigen, though it’s certainly possible he requested to be released in an effort to find more playing time elsewhere.

Asigen, who turns 23 in late August, was never viewed as a top Red Sox prospect but will now look to start anew as a member of the White Sox organization. The Kannapolis Cannon Ballers, who also play in the Carolina League, are slated to open their season on Friday. Depending on how things shake out there, it should be interesting to see if Asigen can work his way up to High-A at some point in 2024.

(Picture of Albertson Asigen: Kelly O’Connor/sittingstill.smugmug.com)

Former Red Sox catching prospect Stephen Scott signs minor-league deal with Tigers

Former Red Sox catching prospect Stephen Scott signed a minor-league contract with the Tigers on Friday, per MiLB.com’s transactions log. The 26-year-old has been assigned to Detroit’s Double-A affiliate, meaning he will open the 2024 season with the Erie SeaWolves.

Scott became a free agent earlier this week after requesting and being granted his release from the Red Sox organization. The North Carolina native was originally selected by Boston in the 10th round of the 2019 amateur draft out of Vanderbilt.

Signed for $50,000, Scott initially came up as a first baseman and corner outfielder before transitioning to catching full-time in 2022. Last season, the left-handed hitter batted .235/.350/.462 with 16 doubles, two triples, 19 home runs, 66 RBIs, 59 runs scored, six stolen bases, 59 walks, and 85 strikeouts in exactly 100 games (403 plate appearances) between Double-A Portland and Triple-A Worcester.

After making the jump from Portland to Worcester in early June, Scott slashed .228/.339/.470 with 11 doubles, one triple, 13 homers, 44 runs driven in, 36 runs scored, two stolen bases, 35 walks, and 51 strikeouts over 63 games (254 plate appearances) with the WooSox. In that time, the 5-foot-11, 205-pounder made 10 starts at first base and 30 at catcher. He threw out just three of 38 possible base stealers while allowing six passed balls in 263 1/3 defensive innings behind the plate.

This spring, Scott received his second straight non-roster invite to major-league camp. He appeared in five Grapefruit League games for Boston, going 0-for-6 with a walk and three strikeouts before being reassigned to minor-league camp on March 6. It seemed as though Scott was ticketed to return to Worcester for the start of the 2024 campaign, but he obviously had something else in mind.

With the external additions of Tyler Heineman and Mark Kolozvary, plus the emergence of prospect Nathan Hickey, Scott would have been buried on Worcester’s catching depth chart. And so, in hopes of finding more playing time elsewhere, Scott and the Red Sox agreed to a mutual parting of ways this past Wednesday.

Scott, who turns 27 in late May, has now found a new opportunity for himself by inking a minors pact with the Tigers. As noted by the Detroit Free Press’ Evan Petzold, the former Arizona Fall League All-Star could serve as Erie’s primary catcher to begin the 2024 season and ultimately work his way back up to the Triple-A level before the year is over.

(Picture of Stephen Scott: Maddie Malhotra/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images)

Red Sox agree to minor-league deal with former All-Star first baseman C.J. Cron

The Red Sox have agreed to terms on a minor-league contract with free agent first baseman C.J. Cron, as was first reported by MassLive.com’s Chris Cotillo. The deal, which includes an invite to major-league spring training, would allow Cron to earn $2 million if he is added to Boston’s active roster and up to $500,000 in performance bonuses, according to The Boston Globe’s Alex Speier.

Cron, 34, is a veteran of 10 big-league seasons who most recently split the 2023 campaign with the Rockies and Angels. Due to lingering back issues, the right-handed hitter was limited to just 71 games between the two clubs, batting .248/.295/.434 with 12 doubles, 12 home runs, 37 RBIs, 38 runs scored, 17 walks, and 65 strikeouts over 278 plate appearances. He got into just 10 games for the Halos after being traded from Colorado to Los Angeles in late July and ended the year on the injured list.

Despite those disappointing results, Cron is just two years removed from making the National League All-Star team after slashing .257/.315/.468 with 29 homers and a career-high 102 RBIs over 150 games (632 plate appearances) for the Rockies in 2022. That came after he clubbed 28 home runs and posted a career-best .905 OPS in his first season with Colorado in 2021.

For his major-league career, which began in 2014, Cron is a lifetime .260/.320/.471 hitter with 194 doubles, 10 triples, 187 home runs, 604 runs driven in, 470 runs scored, 10 stolen bases, 268 walks, and 928 strikeouts across 1,049 total games (4,043 plate appearances) with the Angels, Rays, Twins, Tigers, and Rockies. In that time frame, the former first-round draft selection out of Utah has forged a .781 OPS against right-handed pitching and an .814 OPS against left-handed pitching, though he has struggled with southpaws to some degree in each of the last two seasons.

On the other side of the ball, Cron has been used exclusively as either a first baseman or designated hitter since debuting with the Angels in 2024. Between Colorado and Los Angeles last year, the 6-foot-4, 235-pounder logged 502 innings at first, where he produced zero defensive runs saved, one out above average, and an ultimate zone rating of 1.3, per FanGraphs.

After losing Justin Turner to the Blue Jays in free agency, the Red Sox came into camp this spring relatively thin on right-handed hitting depth at first base. Bobby Dalbec had been projected to make the team as a backup option behind the left-handed hitting Triston Casas, but Cron now figures to challenge him for that spot in the coming weeks.

As someone who is capable of playing first base, third base, and both corner outfield spots, Dalbec may offer more positional versatility than Cron, but his offensive floor is not at the same level. In addition to spelling Casas at first base when needed, Cron could also take some at-bats away from projected everyday DH Masataka Yoshida (another left-handed hitter) if he were to make the team out of camp.

In the more immediate future, Cron — who is expected to arrive in Fort Myers for his physical in the coming days — will not occupy a spot on Boston’s 40-man roster once his signing becomes official. He will, however, have the ability to opt out of his deal if he is not added to the major-league roster within five days of Opening Day (March 28). That, as noted by Cotillo, is his right as an Article XX(B) free agent.

Dalbec, meanwhile, has one minor-league option remaining. In other words, the 28-year-old slugger could be heading back to Triple-A Worcester (where he hit 33 home runs in 114 games last year) for the start of the 2024 season if he loses out to Cron in this battle for a roster spot at camp.

(Picture of C.J. Cron: Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)

Red Sox sign former Phillies infielder/outfielder Dalton Guthrie to minor-league deal

The Red Sox have signed free agent infielder/outfielder Dalton Guthrie to a minor-league contract, per the club’s MLB.com transactions log. It feels safe to assume that the deal comes with an invitation to major-league spring training, but Guthrie has nonetheless been assigned to Triple-A Worcester.

Guthrie, 28, is a former 2017 sixth-round draft selection of the Phillies who broke in with Philadelphia in September 2022. The Florida product appeared in 14 games for the eventual National League champions down the stretch that fall and went 7-for-21 (.333) with one home run, five RBIs, three runs scored, one stolen base, six walks, and seven strikeouts.

Last year, Guthrie opened the season with Philadelphia’s Triple-A affiliate in Lehigh Valley before being called up for the first time in late April. In his second stint with the Phillies, the right-handed hitter went 4-for-24 (.167) with one double, four runs scored, three walks, and seven strikeouts over 23 games. He was then designated for assignment in late June and dealt to the Giants for cash considerations shortly thereafter.

Guthrie’s time with the Giants was short-lived, as he got into just nine games for San Francisco’s Triple-A affiliate in Sacramento before yet again being designated for assignment. This time around, Guthrie was claimed off waivers by the Braves, though he did not see any big-league action with Atlanta.

Instead, Guthrie spent the rest of the 2023 campaign with the Braves’ top minor-league affiliate and batted .271/.363/.345 with five doubles, one triple, two home runs, 22 RBIs, 21 runs scored, three stolen bases, 20 walks, and 45 strikeouts in 49 games (205 plate appearances) for the Gwinnett Stripers. He lost his spot on Atlanta’s 40-man roster in August, which allowed him to reach minor-league free agency in November.

All told, Guthrie is a lifetime .244/.393/.333 hitter with one double, one homer, five runs driven in, seven runs scored, one stolen bases, nine walks, and 14 strikeouts in 37 career big-league games (all with the Phillies). In 209 career games at the Triple-A level, Guthrie owns a .289/.357/.434 slash line with 55 doubles, four triples, 16 home runs, 97 RBIs, 117 runs scored, 30 stolen bases, 62 walks, and 117 strikeouts across 856 total trips to the plate.

On the other side of the ball, Guthrie has started games at second base, third base, shortstop, left field, center field, and right field over the course of his career. In his time with the Phillies, the versatile 5-foot-11, 160-pounder logged 65 innings in right field, 57 innings in center field, 22 innings in left field, 7 2/3 innings at third base, and one inning at second base. He posted four defensive runs saved as an outfielder last year alone.

Guthrie, who has two minor-league options remaining, will presumably be aiming to compete for a bench spot on Boston’s Opening Day roster once spring training begins in Fort Myers later this month. He will also be looking to become the second member of his family to suit up for the Red Sox, as his father, Mark, made 46 relief appearances for the club before being traded to the Cubs in August 1999.

(Picture of Dalton Guthrie: Rich Schultz/Getty Images)

Red Sox sign Alex Rodriguez’s nephew to minor-league deal

The Red Sox have signed free agent infielder Joe Dunand to a minor-league contract, per the club’s MLB.com transactions log. It is unclear if the deal comes with an invite to major-league spring training, but Dunand has been assigned to Triple-A Worcester.

Dunand, 28, is the nephew of former Yankees star Alex Rodriguez. The Miami native was originally selected by the Marlins in the second round of the 2017 amateur draft out of North Carolina State and broke in at the major-league level in May 2022.

Appearing in just three games for the Fish, Dunand went 3-for-10 with one double, one home run, one RBI, two runs scored, and three strikeouts while seeing playing time at second and third base. The right-handed hitter was designated for assignment shorty after making his debut and was quickly claimed off waivers by the Braves, but he has not seen any big-league action since.

Instead, after subsequently being outrighted off the Braves’ 40-man roster, Dunand spent the entirety of the 2023 campaign with Atlanta’s Triple-A affiliate in Gwinnett. He batted .268/.362/.481 with 19 doubles, two triples, 17 home runs, 52 RBIs, 49 runs scored, three stolen bases, 45 walks, and 107 strikeouts in 95 games (403 plate appearances) for the Stripers before being granted free agency this past November.

Altogether, Dunand is a lifetime .238/.318/.383 hitter with 97 doubles, 51 homers, 224 runs driven in, 225 runs scored, 13 stolen bases, 178 walks, and 541 strikeouts in 519 career minor-league games (2,057 plate appearances). That includes a .233/.325/.407 slash line in 249 games at the Triple-A level.

Defensively, Dunand has started games at first base, second base, third base, shortstop, and left field over the course of his professional career. With Gwinnett last year, the 6-foot-1, 205-pounder logged 299 1/3 innings at first base, 263 2/3 innings at third base, and 47 1/3 innings in left field. He also made 23 starts at DH.

Dunand, who does not turn 29 until September, figures to provide the Red Sox with experienced infield/outfield depth at Worcester this coming season. He has two minor-league options remaining, so that could help his case if he is needed in Boston at any point in 2024.

(Picture of Joe Dunand: Denis Poroy/Getty Images)

Red Sox sign veteran catcher Mark Kolozsvary to minor-league deal

For the second time in as many weeks, the Red Sox signed a veteran catcher to a minor-league contract.

After adding two-time Gold Glove Award winner Roberto Perez last Wednesday, Boston inked Mark Kolozsvary to a similar minors pact on Friday, according to ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel. Like Perez, Kolozsvary also received an invitation to major-league spring training.

Kolozsvary, 28, broke in with the Reds last April after originally being selected by the club in the seventh round of the 2017 amateur draft out of Florida. The right-handed hitter appeared in 10 games across four separate stints for Cincinnati, going 4-for-20 (.200) with two doubles, one home run, three RBIs, three runs scored, one walk, and nine strikeouts.

The Reds designated Kolozsvary for assignment last October before losing him on waivers to the Orioles. Baltimore, in turn, successfully outrighted the Florida native in November to keep him in the organization without occupying a spot on its 40-man roster.

Kolozsvary served as upper-minors catching depth for the first three months of the 2023 season. His contract was then selected from Triple-A Norfolk on June 13 as a corresponding move for Ryan Mountcastle hitting the injured list with vertigo. He made his Orioles debut that same night but did not register a plate appearance, instead serving as a defensive replacement for Adley Rutschman in the ninth inning of an 11-6 win over the Blue Jays at Camden Yards.

The following afternoon, Kolozsvary was designated for assignment by the Orioles. He cleared waivers shortly thereafter and elected free agency in lieu of an outright assignment to the minor-leagues, which he had the right to do after already being outrighted once before in his career. Kolozsvary then signed a minors pact with the Twins on June 20 and spent the rest of the year at Triple-A St. Paul.

For his big-league career, Kolozsvary has logged 61 total innings at catcher and has thrown out one of five potential base stealers while allowing two passed balls. In 29 games between Double-A Bowie, Norfolk, and St. Paul this past season, the 5-foot-8, 185-pound backstop accrued 234 innings behind the plate and threw out seven of 34 would-be base stealers without allowing a single passed ball.

Offensively, Kolozsvary is a lifetime .211/.320/.341 hitter with 57 doubles, three triples, 24 home runs, 113 RBIs, 144 runs scored, five stolen bases, 117 walks, and 347 strikeouts in 325 career minor-league games (1,211 plate appearances). That includes a .174/.282/.301 slash line with 10 doubles, one triple, seven homers, 20 runs driven in, 34 runs scored, one stolen base, 22 walks, and 98 strikeouts in 87 games (300 plate appearances) at the Triple-A level.

Kolozsvary, who does not turn 29 until next September, figures to provide the Red Sox with experienced catching depth at Triple-A Worcester in 2024. As things stand now, Boston has just two catchers on its current 40-man roster in Connor Wong and Reese McGuire. While Perez and Mark Kolozsvary are the only two backstops to receive non-roster invites to spring training thus far, Stephen Scott and minor-league Rule 5 pickup Mickey Gasper are among those who project to be in the mix for reps once camp begins in February.

To that end, Kolozsvary should already be familiar with some of his new teammates on the Red Sox. Like first baseman Triston Casas and fellow non-roster invitees Eddy Alvarez and Jamie Westbrook, Kolozsvary helped the United States take home a silver medal at the 2021 Summer Olympics in Tokyo.

(Picture of Mark Kolozsvary: Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)