Veteran Slugger Identified as "Backup Plan" For Boston Red Sox
According to Chris Cotillo of MassLIVE, the Boston Red Sox are at least monitoring the free agent market for veteran slugger Garrett Cooper, but he isn't their first choice.
Adam Duvall continues to be a potential option for the Red Sox as they look to add right-handed depth. One potential fallback option is Garrett Cooper who had a .904 OPS against lefties last year.
Cotillo also added that he can't confirm if Cooper and the Red Sox have spoken but he said that both sides know there is a possible match there.
First, from Cooper's side of things, the interest is understandable. It's less than three weeks from spring training and he'd like a job. We heard that the Milwaukee Brewers were interested in him but after signing Rhys Hoskins, they no longer need him.
From the team's perspective, it's a little more quizzical. The Red Sox will have Triston Casas as the everyday first baseman, so perhaps Cooper could serve as a bench bat or a spot starter against lefties.
The 33-year-old Cooper is a seven-year veteran who has played for the New York Yankees, Miami Marlins and San Diego Padres.
He actually made the All-Star Game in 2022 as a member of the Marlins and represents a good power option for Milwaukee. Lifetime, he's a .268 hitter with 56 homers. He hit a career-high 17 homers in 2023 between Miami and San Diego. He hit .251 for the season.
The Red Sox finished last in the American League East a season ago and haven't made the playoffs since 2021.
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