According to Alex Speier of the Boston Globe, first baseman C.J. Cron and left-hander Joely Rodriguez have both taken use of the uniform opt-out clause in their minor-league contracts with the Red Sox.
Following their signing of minor-league contracts, both players—who had served more than six years as free agents under Article XX(B) and had either finished the season on the major league roster or injured list—were given three mandatory opt-out options. These were to be used five days before Opening Day (Friday), on May 1, and on June 1. Now, the Red Sox have 48 hours to add Rodriguez or Cron to their 40-man roster. If they choose not to include him on the Opening Day roster, they will have to release one of the players.
Cron, 34, was a reliable above-average hitter from 2014 to 22 and has four seasons with 25 or more home runs under his belt. Although he only managed 278 plate appearances with a.248/.295/.434 slash in 2023 due to back and neck issues, he has a solid history of hitting for power with generally balanced platoon splits. In 2,290 plate appearances from 2018 to 22, Cron hit.260/.331/.490 with 116 home runs.
This spring, he has only made 15 plate appearances, going 2 for 11 with three walks and two strikeouts. With Triston Casas and Masataka Yoshida at first base and designated hitter, the Red Sox are set at both positions; nevertheless, Cron might provide either with some right-handed power off the bench or act as a right-handed complement.
Rodriguez, 32, was with the Sox in 2023 but pitched just 11 innings due to oblique, shoulder and hip injuries that combined to result in three different stints on the injured list. He posted a 6.55 ERA in his short time on the mound, striking out 27.5% of his opponents against an 11.8% walk rate and 45.2% ground-ball rate.
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