C.J. Cron on getting to play for the Red Sox: ‘I think it’s pretty special’
The Red Sox officially announced the signing of first baseman C.J. Cron to a minor league deal on Sunday. The veteran will look to continue his big league career with Boston by earning a spot on the 26-man roster out of camp.
“To get a chance to play for this team, I think it’s pretty special,” Cron said to the Boston Globe’s Pete Abraham at JetBlue Park.
“It’s a good situation for me if I can make this team. That’s my main goal right now: to go out there and compete and do whatever I can to make it.”
The Red Sox signed Cron to create competition with Bobby Dalbec to become the backup first baseman and potentially DH with Masataka Yoshida.
If Cron is added to the Opening Day roster, he will earn $2 million this season and can earn up to $500,000 in performance bonuses, per the Globe’s Alex Speier. The veteran first baseman is an XX(B) free agent and will have an opt-out clause if he is not on the 40-man roster by Opening Day.
The 34-year-old struggled offensively last season hitting .248 with 12 homers, 37 RBIs and a .729 OPS. He only played in 71 games with both the Rockies and Angels due to dealing with lingering back issues.
Cron kept his options open on where he might play this winter. The slugger stayed busy working out in the weight room and hitting off pitching machines until he received an offer.
“I didn’t really have any expectations,” he said. “I was just doing my offseason work and whatever came up, came up. Fortunately I was able to get an offer from Boston.”
It’s no guarantee that Cron makes the club but if he does, that means Dalbec will end up back with the WooSox in 2024. The righty hit 33 homers for Triple-A Worcester last season and has been in camp this spring attempting to make the roster with not much competition around him.
Dalbec also has one minor league option remaining.
Cron is now ready to get to work with the Red Sox. He’s expected to see his first in-game action on March 11. Which gives him a few weeks to impress and try and win a job for the 2024 season.
