The Boston Red Sox have yet to make a notable move with spring training underway but impact free agents remain up for grabs in one of the strangest offseasons in recent memory.
Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow has been outspoken about his desire to add a starting pitcher and right-handed bat with positional versatility.
Without much money to spend, the former appears to be a difficult pursuit but the latter has many affordable options, including first baseman/outfielder Garrett Cooper, a player the Red Sox have deemed as a “fallback option” if outfielder Adam Duvall heads elsewhere.
It turns out, Cooper could sign ahead of Duvall, and there’s a good chance the Red Sox remain involved.
“Looks like about five teams in the market for Cooper,” the Miami Herald’s Craig Mish reported Monday. “Could make a decision soon.”
Cooper hit .251 with 36 extra-base hits including 17 home runs, 61 RBIs and a .724 OPS in 123 games between the Miami Marlins and San Diego Padres last season.
The 33-year-old has a career 109 OPS+ and excels against left-handed pitching — which could aid Boston’s left-handed dominant lineup.
It’s unclear how interested the Red Sox are in Cooper but he could provide some depth to both the lineup and first base behind Triston Casas.
Duvall still makes the most sense at this juncture but Cooper would be a solid addition as well.
