The Boston Red Sox still have some big-ticket items on their wish list despite spring training games beginning on Friday.
Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow should still be in the market for starting pitching -- there's no excuse not to sign Jordan Montgomery -- and also has his eye on adding a right-handed bat with positional versatility.
There has not been much movement on the former front but there appeared to be some momentum on the latter until Thursday afternoon.
"Infielder Gio Urshela and the Detroit Tigers are in agreement on a one-year, $1.5 million contract," ESPN's Jeff Passan reported. "Urshela, 32, should help at third base and can play a variety of positions. And his ability to hit left-handers suited what Detroit has sought this winter."
It was revealed by MassLive's Chris Cotillo just one day before he signed that the Red Sox were involved in Urshela's market but failed to separate themselves in the sweepstakes after showing little aggressiveness -- shocker.
Urshela hit .299 with 11 extra-base hits including a pair of home runs, 24 RBIs and a .703 OPS in 62 games last season -- missing significant time with a pelvis fracture. He has a career .277 average and 103 OPS+ in eight seasons.
The veteran infielder would have played at least corner infield for the Red Sox and essentially replaced Bobby Dalbec on the roster.
Urshela is a much better defender and more complete offensively as well. It would have cost Boston pennies to land a player who would have been a significant depth piece and an extra right-handed bat off the bench.
Instead, the Red Sox continue to whiff in free agency.
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