Ex-Red Sox Slugger Exploding For AL East Rival In Spring Training; Could Boston Regret Loss?
One former member of the Red Sox is shining in spring training, but not for Boston.
Former Red Sox slugger Franchy Cordero was non-tendered by the team following the 2022 campaign and eventually signed with the Baltimore Orioles as a free agent to a minor league contract.
The 28-year-old has done everything he can this spring to nab one of the team's final bench sports, and may actually grab one after an explosive performance.
Cordero has shined for Baltimore so far in spring and in 17 games has slashed .432/.444/.705 to go along with two home runs and nine RBIs. The slugger also has added four doubles and a triple to go along with a steal.
The 28-year-old began his Major League Baseball career as a member of the San Diego Padres in 2017. Cordero spent the first three years of his career with the Padres before being traded to the Kansas City Royals ahead of the 2020 campaign. Cordero was traded once again ahead of the 2021 campaign from the Royals to Boston in exchange for outfielder Andrew Benintendi and he spent the last two seasons bouncing around the big leagues and minor leagues.
Cordero showed flashes of impressive play at times in Boston but was inconsistent. In two seasons with the club, Cordero slashed .209/.279/.350 to go along with nine home runs and 38 RBIs. The 28-year-old played all over the diamond for Boston and saw time at first base, designated hitter, and all three outfield spots for the club in 2022.
If Cordero were to make the Orioles, he likely would be a utility bench option. Boston themselves still trying to determine who will nab the last spots on its team with Bobby Dalbec and Yu Chang battling for the final infield spot, and Jarren Duran and Raimel Tapia looking for the final outfield spot. There's no way for sure to know if his spring training play will carry over to the regular season -- if he were to make the Orioles -- but he has looked solid. His play this spring could even rival Dalbec, Duran, Chang, and Tapia's.
Cordero certainly has impressed this spring, maybe Boston will have to even face off against him in 2023.
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