Eduardo Nunez appears on his way to staying in the fold with the Red Sox.
UPDATE (Feb. 18, 9:52 a.m.): FanRag Sports’ Jon Heyman tweeted on Sunday that Nunez’s deal with the Red Sox is official. It’s a one-year deal for $4 million with a player option for the same salary in 2019, plus $2 million in escalators and incentives.
ESPN’s Buster Olney tweeted on Thursday that the Red Sox have an agreement in place with Nunez, pending a physical. Olney added, however, that Nunez’s recent injury woes indicate that the deal is not quite official yet.
Sean McAdam of the Boston Sports Journal reported on Friday that the deal is for one year with an option for 2019.
Eduardo Nunez is carried off the field by Red Sox trainer Masai Takahashi and manager John Farrell after suffering an injury in the first inning against the Houston Astros during Game 1 of the American League Division Series at Minute Maid Park on October 5, 2017 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
The Red Sox first acquired Nunez from the San Francisco Giants before the 2017 trade deadline for minor-league pitchers Shaun Anderson and Gregory Santos. Nunez was excellent at the plate in 38 games with the Sox, batting .321 with 8 home runs and 27 RBIs.
However, Nunez also dealt with knee injuries that have dogged him in recent years. He ultimately had to leave Game 1 of the American League Division Series against the Houston Astros when he re-injured his knee while running to first base on a groundout (pictured above).
If the deal ultimately goes through, Nunez will of course be far from a game-changer. But he will provide the Red Sox with a solid bat and versatility in the field. The hope is that his knee problems won’t persist in 2018.
— By Matt Dolloff, 985TheSportsHub.com
Matt Dolloff is a digital producer for 985TheSportsHub.com. Any opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of 98.5 The Sports Hub, Beasley Media Group, or any subsidiaries. Have a news tip, question, or comment for Matt? Follow him on Twitter @mattdolloff or email him at matthew.dolloff@bbgi.com.