Boston Red Sox

Boston Red Sox

Boston Red Sox

Jul 19, 2022; Los Angeles, California, USA; National League first baseman C.J. Cron (25) of the Colorado Rockies during batting practice before the 2022 MLB All Star Game at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

On a never ending quest for affordable help, the Boston Red Sox landed on another former All-Star on Friday, with the club reportedly agreeing to terms with first baseman C.J. Cron on a minor-league deal.

The deal for Cron, who split last year between the Los Angeles Angels and Colorado Rockies, was reported by multiple outlets and baseball’s heavy hitters both locally and nationally. And with all confirming that it will be a minor-league contract for the 1,049-game MLB veteran.

Cron is now the second former All-Star to sign a minor-league deal with the Red Sox this offseason, joining starter-turned-reliever Michael Fulmer, who inked a two-year deal with Boston last month.

  • Limited to just 71 games last year due to back issues that by all means bothered him all season, the 34-year-old Cron hit .260 with 11 homers and 32 RBIs in 56 games with the Rockies, but struggled upon his move back to Los Angeles ahead of the 2023 trade deadline, with a .200 average and just one home run in a 15-game run with the Halos.

    That ’23 run with the Angels included three separate trips to the injured list for Cron, including what was a season-ending move to the injured list on Sept. 23.

  • Jul 1, 2023; Denver, Colorado, USA; Colorado Rockies first baseman C.J. Cron (25) heads home to score a run in the sixth inning against the Detroit Tigers at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

    Jul 1, 2023; Denver, Colorado, USA; Colorado Rockies first baseman C.J. Cron (25) heads home to score a run in the sixth inning against the Detroit Tigers at Coors Field. (Ron Chenoy/USA TODAY Sports)

    But as noted, Cron does come to the Red Sox with some recent success to his name, as the righty-swinging Cron was an All-Star for the Rockies back in 2022.

    In action for a career-high 150 games, Cron walloped 29 home runs out of the yard, and recorded a career-high 102 RBIs.

    Bleacher Report on Twitter: "C.J. CRON 504 FT BOMB 💣Second longest HR to be tracked in MLB history 🤯(via @Rockies)pic.twitter.com/nHck131nWD / Twitter"

    C.J. CRON 504 FT BOMB 💣Second longest HR to be tracked in MLB history 🤯(via @Rockies)pic.twitter.com/nHck131nWD

    Cron also et career-best marks in average (.281), runs (79), triples (three), and hits (148). Cron also recoded at least 25 doubles for the fourth time in his MLB career, which began in 2014 with the Angels.

  • Aug 11, 2023; Houston, Texas, USA; Los Angeles Angels first baseman C.J. Cron (25) rounds the bases after hitting a home run against Houston Astros starting pitcher Justin Verlander (35) (not pictured) in the second inning at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Thomas Shea-USA TODAY Sports

    Aug 11, 2023; Houston, Texas, USA; Angels first baseman C.J. Cron (25) rounds the bases after hitting a home run against Astros pitcher Justin Verlander (35) in the second inning at Minute Maid Park. (Thomas Shea/USA TODAY Sports)

    And though Cron’s greatest success as a pro came with his Colorado run, it is worth noting that he has had success outside of Coors Field in his career.

    Bally Sports Florida & Bally Sports Sun on Twitter: "C.J. Cron handles the high heat for his 29th HR of the season! The @RaysBaseball are live now on FOX Sports Sun and FOX Sports Go! #RaysUp pic.twitter.com/we3alEPEtc / Twitter"

    C.J. Cron handles the high heat for his 29th HR of the season! The @RaysBaseball are live now on FOX Sports Sun and FOX Sports Go! #RaysUp pic.twitter.com/we3alEPEtc

    In fact, the majority of Cron’s 10-year MLB career has come in the American League, with runs with the Angels, Tampa Bay Rays, and Minnesota Twins. And Cron’s only MLB season as a 30-home run swinger came with that 2018 run in Tampa, too, with exactly 30 home runs in 140 games for the Rays.

  • Sep 20, 2022; Denver, Colorado, USA; Colorado Rockies first baseman C.J. Cron (25) runs after his solo home run in the sixth inning against the San Francisco Giants at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

    Sep 20, 2022; Denver, Colorado, USA; Colorado Rockies first baseman C.J. Cron (25) runs after his solo home run in the sixth inning against the San Francisco Giants at Coors Field. (Ron Chenoy/USA TODAY Sports)

    There’s also something to be said Cron’s success at Fenway Park.

    From his time in the American League, Cron has posted a .328 average and 1.033 OPS with six home runs and 13 RBIs, along with three doubles, in 16 career games at Fenway.

    It’s his second-best batting average at any park in baseball, trailing only a .333 in 18 career games at Arizona’s Chase Field, while his six home runs are second-most at any ballpark he’s played at fewer than 20 times in his career (he has eight home runs in 18 games in Kansas City).

    Cron is expected to battle with Bobby Dalbec for a spot on Boston’s Opening Day roster.

  • Sep 4, 2022; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher Jason Alexander (41) throws against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the first inning at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports

    Sep 4, 2022; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher Jason Alexander (41) throws against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the first inning at Chase Field. (Rick Scuteri/USA TODAY Sports)

    In other minor-league news, the Red Sox also signed pitcher Jason Alexander to a minor-league deal.

    A 6-foot-3 righty, Alexander appeared in 18 games (11 starts) for the Brewers in 2022, with a 2-3 record and 5.40 ERA over 71.2 innings of work.

    The 31-year-old Alexander spent the majority of his 2023 season with Triple-A Nashville, with a 2-4 record and 5.86 ERA in 16 games (eight starts) for the Sounds.

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