Boston Red Sox rumors: 4 first base upgrades to target at MLB Trade Deadline

Boston Red Sox first base MLB Trade Deadline targets: C.J. Cron

If the Colorado Rookies are selling at the MLB Trade Deadline, the Boston Red Sox should explore interest in veteran first baseman C.J. Cron, who could be a nice addition in the lineup, maybe not as productive as Jesus Aguilar would be.

Batting .246 with 14 homers and 42 RBI, the 6-foot-4, 235-pound Cron would give the Red Sox some more power in the lineup and could come at a cheaper price, meaning Chaim Bloom wouldn’t have to give up one of his top prospects to land him.

MLB’s Mark Feinsand also believes Cron is a fit for the Red Sox despite being another right-handed bat in the lineup.

Feinsand writes:

"“Boston’s .663 OPS at first base ranks 12th in the AL, though Bobby Dalbec has 10 home runs in 226 at-bats. The Red Sox lineup is predominantly right-handed — Rafael Devers and Alex Verdugo are the only everyday lefties, while Marwin Gonzalez is a switch-hitter — so adding a left-handed bat would be preferable.”"

A move for Cron both upgrades the first base position and allows the team to hold onto Bobby Dalbec.  He’s not a sexy choice for an MLB Trade Deadline splash, but sometimes it’s the minor moves a team makes that takes them to the promise land.

Back in 2018, the Red Sox made trades for Nathan Eovaldi and Steve Pearce.  Both of those players made valuable contributions down the stretch and were big reasons that 108-win team won the World Series.

Is Cron that type of player?

Going from a team like the Rookies to a contending team like the Red Sox could inject new energy in C.J. Cron.  That and the fact that he would be playing half his games at Fenway Park where he has the power to really strive.