Red Sox claim utility man off waivers from Rockies

The Boston Red Sox

The #RedSox today claimed INF Taylor Motter off waivers from the Colorado Rockies.

— Red Sox (@RedSox) September 2, 2021" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">announced Thursday that they’ve claimed utility infielder/outfielder Taylor Motter off waivers from the Colorado Rockies. Motter now joins his fifth team in just four seasons playing in the major leagues.

Motter, 31, played 13 games with the Rockies in 2021 and batted .150 with a .377 OPS, mainly as a pinch-hitter. In the field, he registered three games at third base and two in the outfield.

In all, Motter has logged 49 games at shortstop, 39 in the outfield, 26 at second base, 21 at first base, and 15 at third base. Originally a 17th-round pick of the Tampa Bay Rays in 2016, when Red Sox Chief Baseball Officer Chaim Bloom was serving as their Senior Vice President of Baseball Operations, Motter has spent time in Tampa, Minnesota, and Seattle. He spent the 2019 season in Double-A for the Oakland A’s and Detroit Lions organizations.

The journeyman utlity man also spent parts of 2019 and 2020 in the Dominican Winter League, the Atlantic League, and the Korean Baseball Organization, before breaking back into the big leagues with Colorado.

Motter arrives to the Red Sox as they’ve rebounded with two wins in a row after losing two in the row to the Rays. The Red Sox needed depth in both the infield and outfield after shortstop Xander Bogaerts, infielders Yairo Munoz and Christian Arroyo, utility man Kike Hernandez recently landed on the COVID-19 injured list.

• Colorado Rockies v Houston Astros

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  HOUSTON, TEXAS - AUGUST 11: Taylor Motter #18 of the Colorado Rockies throws out Taylor Jones #28 of the Houston Astros in the fourth inning at Minute Maid Park on August 11, 2021 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)

• MLB: Colorado Rockies at Los Angeles Dodgers

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  Aug 28, 2021; Los Angeles, California, USA; Colorado Rockies manager Bud Black (10) greets shortstop Taylor Motter (18) at the dugout after scoring on a Connor Joe (not pictured sacrifice fly in the third inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports

• MLB: Colorado Rockies at San Francisco Giants

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  Aug 15, 2021; San Francisco, California, USA; Colorado Rockies shortstop Taylor Motter (18) warms up before the game against the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports
• MLB: Boston Red Sox at Minnesota Twins

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  Jun 19, 2018; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Twins right fielder Taylor Motter (45) fields a ball hit by the Boston Red Sox at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports

• MLB: Texas Rangers at Minnesota Twins

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  Jun 23, 2018; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Twins shortstop Taylor Motter (45) fields a ball hit by the Texas Rangers in the eighth inning at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports

• Texas Rangers v Minnesota Twins

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  MINNEAPOLIS, MN - JUNE 22: Taylor Motter #45 of the Minnesota Twins bobbles a ball hit by Elvis Andrus #1 of the Texas Rangers during the fourth inning of the game on June 22, 2018 at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
• Minnesota Twins v Toronto Blue Jays

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  TORONTO, ON - JULY 23: Taylor Motter #45 of the Minnesota Twins dives but cannot get to a double hit by Justin Smoak #14 of the Toronto Blue Jays as Robbie Grossman #36 watches in the ninth inning during MLB game action at Rogers Centre on July 23, 2018 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images)

• Oakland Athletics v Seattle Mariners

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  SEATTLE, WA - APRIL 15: Taylor Motter #21 of the Seattle Mariners celebrates his home run in the fifth inning against the Oakland Athletics at Safeco Field on April 15, 2018 in Seattle, Washington. All players are wearing #42 in honor of Jackie Robinson Day. (Photo by Lindsey Wasson/Getty Images)

MORE: Xander Bogaerts Lands On COVID Injured List

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