#third-base

#third-base

While the Red Sox have spent most of the offseason focused on the trade market to augment their roster, they now appear to be turning their attention towards free agency. ESPN's Buster Olney reported in an appearance on an episode of the podcast "First Up with Korolnek and Colaiacovo" (audio link courtesy of Foul Territory's Robbie Hyde) that the Red Sox made an "aggressive" offer to Bregman before speculating that Bregman will ultimately return to Boston.

Second baseman underwent surgery after dislocating his left shoulder with two weeks remaining in the regular season. Meanwhile, the team announced last week that third baseman Brett Harris underwent surgery to repair the UCL in his left thumb (link via Jason Burke of Sports Illustrated). The injuries cloud what were already the two weakest positions in the lineup heading into the winter.

After having too many third basemen at the start of spring training, the Red Sox might have the opposite problem this offseason. Alex Bregman is reportedly set to opt out of his contract and become a free agent when the offseason officially opens. While Red Sox manager Alex Cora isn't worrying about the situation, Bregman is widely viewed as the top free agent at third base this offseason, so Boston will presumably have strong competition to keep him.

Bregman can opt out of the final two years and $80MM of his contract this offseason. Deferred money in the contract reportedly knocks the present-day valuation of that sum down by around $10MM annually. Even absent the deferrals, Bregman would feel like all but a lock to opt out. He secured that contract last year when he was saddled a qualifying offer, which won't be the case this season, as players can only receive one QO in their careers.

Connor Norby, a promising third baseman for the Marlins, will miss six to eight weeks after undergoing wrist surgery to repair a broken hamate bone.

The Yankees selected Dax Kilby with their first pick in the MLB Draft, signaling a potential shift in their player development strategy. Scouting director Damon Oppenheimer provided insights into the team’s selections and their evaluation process, indicating a focus on diverse talents.

"It's a position I'm comfortable with," Edman said Friday, after taking grounders at third at the start of his pregame work. "The hops [there] are weird, so you gotta play a little bit more one-handed ... But it's still the infield. You still gotta work on the footwork, just like you would at second and short. Catching the ball, getting behind your throws. It's a lot of the same concepts."