Boston found a better solution to bolster behind the plate
The Boston Red Sox entered the offseason seemingly motivated and appeared to be on the precipice of reminding Major League Baseball that they are one of the biggest markets in the sport.
Thus far, it’s been more of the same for the inactive Red Sox — though there are plenty of impact players remaining.
While fans have reason to be upset over losing out on superstars such as Shohei Ohtani or Yoshinobu Yamamoto, the latest player Boston fell out of the bidding for is not worth getting upset over.
“Free-agent catcher Martín Maldonado and the Chicago White Sox are close to an agreement, according to sources familiar with the situation,” FanSided’s Robert Murray reported Tuesday.
The Red Sox met with Maldonado’s representation at the uneventful Winter Meetings earlier this month and were among a plethora of potential suitors for his services.
Since then, however, Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow appeared to pivot, and rightfully so.
Between then and now Breslow inked a fellow Gold Glove-winner catcher to a minor-league deal, Roberto Pérez.
Boston needed additional catching depth behind Connor Wong and Reese McGuire, and Pérez fits the mold due to his willingness to start the season off of the 40-man roster.
Maldonado on the other hand, would have cost the Red Sox a third 40-man spot for the position.
The Red Sox lost bidding wars for Yamamoto and even right-hander Seth Lugo (to the Kansas City Royals) but appeared to drop out of the race for Maldonado after finding a better match with Pérez.
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