The Boston Red Sox have reached an agreement with veteran free agent Marwin González, according to noted MLB.com journalist Mark Feinsand. It’s a one-year deal for $ 3 million with more than $ 1 million in incentives. This pact will reunite González with the manager of the Red Sox, Alex Cora, who was Houston’s bench coach during González’s best season in 2017.
Venezuelan González played for the Astros from 2012 to 2018, and while it took a few years for his attack to recover, he became a solid producer at the club in recent years. The switch-hitter had 2,265 at bats as an Astro from 2014-18, hitting .271 / .328 / .438 (111 wRC +) with 70 home runs. He also lined up in every position except pitcher and catcher while with the Astros.
Gonzalez, 31, built on his full success at the Astros with a two-year $ 21 million contract with the Twins that began in 2019. except in midfield, but his offense had diminished. The 92-kilogram 1.85 meter player ended his tenure with the Twins with an unsatisfactory line of .248 / .311 / .387 (85 wRC +) and 20 home runs in 662 trips to the plate.
While he didn’t produce as much as a Twin, it’s no surprise that Gonzalez has sparked the interest of several teams in this free agency era. The Blue Jays, one of the Boston division’s rivals, were also among the teams that fought for him, according to Feinsand.
Like the Red Sox’s new utility, Enrique Hernández, González plans to play the whole diamond for the club. That should include the outfield as the Red Sox traded one of their previous starters, Andrew Benintendi, last Wednesday.