The Boston Red Sox have been a hot topic this offseason, particularly regarding third base. There’s been speculation about whether Rafael Devers might be moved from third, with rumors suggesting a possible acquisition of Alex Bregman. However, for now, Devers remains at third and Bregman is still a free agent.
This week, the Red Sox added depth by signing free-agent infielder Abraham Toro to a minor-league contract. Toro has played for four different MLB teams, starting with the Houston Astros in 2019 before being traded to the Seattle Mariners in 2021 as part of the Kendall Graveman deal. He then went from Seattle to Milwaukee in the 2022 offseason as part of the Jesse Winker trade, and after the 2023 season, he was dealt to the Oakland Athletics.
Toro made the A’s Opening Day roster and became their starting third baseman when J.D. Davis was placed on the IL in April. He had a solid start, hitting .262 in April (22-for-84) and .315 with a .351 OBP in May. However, his production dropped significantly after June, hitting just .160 (20-for-125) for the remainder of the season, which led to him being DFA’d by August. Toro spent the rest of the season in the minors as Oakland searched for a more permanent third base solution.
Though Toro mainly played third for Oakland, he has experience at second base, which could be a valuable asset for Boston. Currently, FanGraphs has David Hamilton penciled in as the Red Sox’s starting second baseman, with Vaughn Grissom in a platoon role. Toro, a switch-hitter, could step in if either player gets injured, and he’s performed better against left-handed pitching, hitting .286 with a .313 OBP and a 106 wRC+ against southpaws, compared to .227 with a .287 OBP and an 81 wRC+ against right-handers.
At 28, Toro’s addition is mainly for depth as the Red Sox aim to return to the postseason in 2025. While improving the roster with top-tier players like Walker Buehler and Garrett Crochet, Boston is also focusing on strengthening its depth. If Toro seizes an opportunity and performs like he did in his early days with Oakland, he could be a key factor in the Red Sox’s push for October baseball.
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