The Boston Red Sox have been generating a lot of buzz this offseason regarding their third-base situation. Questions loom about whether Rafael Devers could move off third base, and whether the team might pursue Alex Bregman. As of now, Devers remains at third, and Bregman is still without a contract.
In the meantime, the Red Sox have added some depth to their roster, signing free-agent infielder Abraham Toro to a minor-league deal. Toro has played for four teams in his big-league career, starting with the Houston Astros in 2019. He was traded to the Seattle Mariners in 2021 as part of the Kendall Graveman deal, and after the 2022 season, he was sent to Milwaukee in the Jesse Winker trade. Toro was later moved to Oakland after the 2023 season.
Toro made the A’s Opening Day roster in 2024, stepping in as the starting third baseman when J.D. Davis went on the IL in April. He had a solid start to the season, hitting .262 in April and following it up with a .315 average and .351 OBP in May. However, his production dropped in June, and by the end of August, he was designated for assignment (DFA) and spent the rest of the season in the minors as Oakland looked for a long-term solution at third base.
Although Toro primarily played third base with the A’s, he has also seen time at second base during his career, which could be his best route to playing time in Boston. As of now, FanGraphs has David Hamilton as the Red Sox’s starting second baseman, with Vaughn Grissom likely in a platoon role. Toro could provide depth at the position, especially since he’s a switch-hitter who has performed better against left-handed pitchers. Against right-handers, Toro posted a .227 average with a .287 OBP and an 81 wRC+ (below league average), but against lefties, he hit .286 with a .313 OBP and a 106 wRC+ (above average).
At 28, Toro’s addition is primarily for depth as the Red Sox look to improve their chances of making the postseason in 2025. While signing top-tier players like Walker Buehler and trading for Garrett Crochet are part of the strategy, improving team depth is just as crucial. If Toro can replicate his early-season success with Oakland and seize an opportunity, he could be a valuable piece for Boston, possibly making the difference between a playoff berth and another early exit.
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