Red Sox Sign CJ Cron

Red(s)HawksFan

Member
SoSH Member
Jan 23, 2009
20,947
Maine
In July of 2016, my family and I made a pilgrimage to Fenway to finally see the Redsox. They were playing the Angels. We were so excited. Buchholz got the start, and the Sox lost, 21-2. CJ Cron, starting at first base, came into the game hitting something like .120. I'm pretty sure he went 6-6 with two dingers.
He did. Though he was hitting .268/.324/.429/.753 entering the game. Raised it to .287/.340/.473/.812 with that performance.
 

Farty Barrett

Member
SoSH Member
Nov 4, 2012
49
I’m still rooting for Steven Scott to get a cup of coffee at some point with the Sox. But that may only happen if he can learn to play somewhere other than first base.

Sox Prospects are projecting Cron to make the team and Dalbec starting for Worcester.
 

billy ashley

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 15, 2005
1,233
Washington DC
I think folks are overreacting to this, a little.

Beyond being an alternative to Bobby Dalbec, CJ Cron does not seem likely to be a big part of the 2024 plans. If he beats Dalbec in camp... great... Boston adds some emergency depth at 1B should Casas go down with an injury. If not, he either opts out or plays in AAA (and adds emergency depth at AAA). Prior to today, Worcester's starting 1B was slated to be Stephen Scott.

I love Stephen Scott. He's a great organizational player. His friendship and BBQs with fellow org depth masher (errr, minor league masher) Joe Davis (since retired) was one of the funnier more wholesome running gags in minor league baseball back in 2021.

But the guy likely never sees the majors unless he turns to coaching. They're not going to DFA a potentially useful relief arm for an uproven Stephen Scott. So much would have to go wrong for that to happen.

Cron is a guy you could theoretically call up if Casas misses a month. If he breaks camp with the Sox and Dalbec is sent to the minors, it's the same deal... You're fine carrying Dalbec on a 40 man roster slot. That depth can be useful.
 

Bigdogx

New Member
Jul 21, 2020
166
This is how i feel about the Red Sox over the last few seasons.

They have literally only subtracted from this current team vs. last season and added nothing but washed up junk!

 

Rovin Romine

Johnny Rico
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Jul 14, 2005
24,623
Miami (oh, Miami!)
This is how i feel about the Red Sox over the last few seasons.

They have literally only subtracted from this current team vs. last season and added nothing but washed up junk!

My condolences on your feelings. The good news it that they're irrational.

This is a good place to go for some facts on the players the Sox have acquired in the past few seasons: https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/BOS/2023-transactions.shtml

This is another good place to go: https://www.soxprospects.com/
 

54thMA

Member
SoSH Member
Aug 15, 2012
10,169
Westwood MA
In July of 2016, my family and I made a pilgrimage to Fenway to finally see the Redsox. They were playing the Angels. We were so excited. Buchholz got the start, and the Sox lost, 21-2. CJ Cron, starting at first base, came into the game hitting something like .120. I'm pretty sure he went 6-6 with two dingers.
Are you sure you don't have him confused with Justin Bour?
 

The Gray Eagle

Member
SoSH Member
Aug 1, 2001
16,904
This is how i feel about the Red Sox over the last few seasons.

They have literally only subtracted from this current team vs. last season and added nothing but washed up junk!

No matter how he does this season, our new second baseman is the exact opposite of "washed up junk". Maybe you should look into him.
 
Last edited:

DJnVa

Dorito Dawg
SoSH Member
Dec 16, 2010
54,232
I'm going with Danny Richardson, who played from 1884-1894 and hit 32 HR, versus Goodson's 30.


I have lots of extra Jim Rice cards when you get up to March 8th, if you need one!

Can’t help you with Jan 25, but this card may be the most attainable as it was released about 100 years after the rest https://www.tcdb.com/ViewCard.cfm/sid/105347/cid/7318388/1990-Target-Dodgers-664-Danny-Richardson
Yeah, I think that's the one I'm gonna go with.
 

cantor44

Member
SoSH Member
Dec 23, 2020
1,644
Chicago, IL
I mean, this signing can't hurt. Depth piece. Worst case, he gets DFA-ed. Best case, he is an effective player off the bench. I mean, two seasons ago, he was still a good hitter.

Though how many recent acquisitions have we said that about ...
 

kazuneko

Member
SoSH Member
Nov 10, 2006
2,845
Honolulu HI
This off-season has been like a down escalator for our collective expectations. We started with dreams of “Yamamoto and Montgomery” and have been slowly let down, step by step, to the point where “Donovan Solano or at least Garrett Cooper” would have seemed like a win.
But alas, we have finally landed and the long lost dreams of Yamamoto and Montgomery which later shifted towards “at least Montgomery”, to a big RH bat like Guriel,Teo, and Soler failed to even lead to Michael Taylor. I know there is still time, but CJ Cron being the big signing of the winter just feels too emblematic of this off-season to not be Breslow’s conclusive signing.
 

Red(s)HawksFan

Member
SoSH Member
Jan 23, 2009
20,947
Maine
This off-season has been like a down escalator for our collective expectations. We started with dreams of “Yamamoto and Montgomery” and have been slowly let down, step by step, to the point where “Donovan Solano or at least Garrett Cooper” would have seemed like a win.
But alas, we have finally landed and the long lost dreams of Yamamoto and Montgomery which later shifted towards “at least Montgomery”, to a big RH bat like Guriel,Teo, and Soler failed to even lead to Michael Taylor. I know there is still time, but CJ Cron being the big signing of the winter just feels too emblematic of this off-season to not be Breslow’s conclusive signing.
In no world is CJ Cron signing a minor league deal the "big signing of the winter."
 

lexrageorge

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 31, 2007
18,244
So it looks like there will at least be a Cron-job running in the background at Ft Myers.
 

manny

New Member
Jul 24, 2005
267
During his last year with the Angels, CJ Cron broke his bat during spring training BP and handed it to my son, so I'll be rooting for him.

Edit: my son informs me that I have confused CJ Cron with Justin Bour, so CJ Cron is now dead to me.
Sorry to add nothing but lol at this edit
 

kazuneko

Member
SoSH Member
Nov 10, 2006
2,845
Honolulu HI
As much as this a completely underwhelming move, I do like that Cron has been an average to plus fielder in his career. That’s the one way he is clearly superior to both Casas and Dalbec. Of course he can’t play 3b, but I don’t think that’s pressing. Both Rafaela and Reyes have played there in the past and Reyes actually rates better there than at second.
 

strek1

Run, Forrest, run!
SoSH Member
Jun 13, 2006
31,973
Hartford area
A 34 year old 1B/DH coming off the worst season of his career (87 OPS+, -0.5 WAR) and a season in which his numbers dropped precipitously from 2022.

I hope they didn't pay too much for him.

EDIT: I see it's a minor league deal. That's fine.
Moneywise it's fine but is he blocking some kid from moving up and getting experience?
 

Red(s)HawksFan

Member
SoSH Member
Jan 23, 2009
20,947
Maine
Moneywise it's fine but is he blocking some kid from moving up and getting experience?
Unlikely. Right now, 1B at Worcester projects to be Bobby Dalbec and Stephen Scott (SoxProspects currently has him at #42 on their list). Portland has Blaze Jordan (SP #20) and Niko Kavadas (not in SP top 60). If Cron doesn't make the 26-man roster and somehow sticks around in Worcester rather than opting out, he's not blocking anyone of consequence.
 

section15

Member
SoSH Member
Mar 23, 2007
227
Bradford, MA and section 15
Moneywise it's fine but is he blocking some kid from moving up and getting experience?
This is exactly my concern = "organizational depth" is a benefit, but as they add these guys to the WooSox, and Sea Dogs, it could be blocking someone else.


They could be trading some guys soon - note that they've been showcasing Blaze Jordan at first as well. I also have felt, since Winter Weekend, that Nick Yorke is gonna be the odd man out at 2nd.
 

jon abbey

Shanghai Warrior
Moderator
SoSH Member
Jul 15, 2005
71,222
I had sort of been assuming he was a lock to make it, so I'm slightly surprised to see this, even if it's just to force the FO's hand
Yeah, it's just the way the system works. Teams don't want to add guys until the last possible minute but the CBA has a March 21 date for all veterans with 6+ years experience on minor league deals to opt out or be OK with being sent to AAA. If you look at MLB Trade Rumors, you'll see that a lot of veterans are going through this today, many of them have been released to look for other opportunities.
 

Sandy Leon Trotsky

Member
SoSH Member
Mar 11, 2007
6,491
Yeah, it's just the way the system works. Teams don't want to add guys until the last possible minute but the CBA has a March 21 date for all veterans with 6+ years experience on minor league deals to opt out or be OK with being sent to AAA. If you look at MLB Trade Rumors, you'll see that a lot of veterans are going through this today, many of them have been released to look for other opportunities.
I didn’t see Cron as anything other than Spring Training injury insurance for DH/1B. Dalbec will be on the 26 man roster
 

mauf

Anderson Cooper × Mr. Rogers
Moderator
SoSH Member
Jun 22, 2008
36,123
I didn’t see Cron as anything other than Spring Training injury insurance for DH/1B. Dalbec will be on the 26 man roster
Cron has been a useful hitter more recently and for longer stretches than Dalbec. And Dalbec can be optioned.

Dalbec might get the Opening Day nod for his positional versatility, especially with the Grissom injury, but if we end up needing 300 PAs from one of them, Cron is more likely to be passable.
 

bernie carb 33

New Member
Feb 2, 2024
68
Cron has been a useful hitter more recently and for longer stretches than Dalbec. And Dalbec can be optioned.

Dalbec might get the Opening Day nod for his positional versatility, especially with the Grissom injury, but if we end up needing 300 PAs from one of them, Cron is more likely to be passable.
Cron's chances of making the roster may depend on his physical condition. Is he fully recovered from the back ailments from last year? Interestingly he came off IL last year to be the replacement for the Angel's Ohtani who had gone on the IL.
 

Cassvt2023

Member
SoSH Member
Jan 17, 2023
570
I watched the ST game last night where Cron was playing first and hitting cleanup with all of the other projected starters. He doesn’t look healthy. Running the bases, he looked like he was in pain.
 

pjheff

Member
SoSH Member
Jan 4, 2003
1,339
I watched the ST game last night where Cron was playing first and hitting cleanup with all of the other projected starters. He doesn’t look healthy. Running the bases, he looked like he was in pain.
I remember attending Yankees Spring Training games back in the late 80’s and watching Frank Howard lumbering out to be the first base coach. He had clearly lost all flexibility in his back. That’s how Cron looked last week trying to run down the first base line on a groundout.
 

reggiecleveland

sublime
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Mar 5, 2004
28,014
Saskatoon Canada
I remember attending Yankees Spring Training games back in the late 80’s and watching Frank Howard lumbering out to be the first base coach. He had clearly lost all flexibility in his back. That’s how Cron looked last week trying to run down the first base line on a groundout.
Frank Howard usually stood at card shows since his back was so bad.