MLB Notebook: Grissom in doubt for Opening Day, Valdez, Reyes options at second; Red Sox sign another ex-All-Star & more

Vaughn Grissom’s coronation as the Red Sox’s second baseman of the future will have to wait a little longer.

Alex Cora revealed on Saturday that the newly-acquired second baseman suffered a groin strain during spring training and has no timetable for return, putting his status as the starter for Opening Day on March 28th at Seattle in jeopardy. 

“He has a slight groin strain in the left one, so he’ll be out. We’ve got to shut him down,” Cora said. “It happened two days ago taking ground balls. He had an MRI yesterday (Friday). We feel comfortable with where we at, but obviously uncomfortable to where we at, you know, so it’s going to take more than a few days.

“I think with this now, kind of like Opening Day is, you know, it might not happen for him.” 

Bummer.

This represents the 23-year-old Grissom’s second injury of his brief Red Sox career. He also injured his hamstring earlier in camp before re-aggravating it this past week. 

“He was trending in the right direction, he was moving well,” Cora said. “He was going to play (on Sunday). This happened and now we just have to be patient, get him stronger, get him better and he’ll be OK.”

Grissom’s development arc was one of the more interesting storylines heading into the season. Now, it doesn’t sound like Grissom will be on the shelf long term, but two injury flare-ups this spring isn’t an encouraging start for a young player the team was hoping would be able to take the ball and run with it.

Yet when one door closes, another door opens…

Sox have (second) bases covered with Valdez, Reyes

Cora didn’t sound like a man who was in a panic when pressed on the Sox’s depth at second with Grissom out of action.

“We’re good,” Cora said. “The little guy, he’s moving well, he’s throwing the ball well. I mean, yesterday we had a drill over there turning double plays — he put work.”

The “little guy” he’s referring to is none other than Enmanuel Valdez, who burst onto the scene last year amid the Sox’s desperate search for depth up the middle. The now 25-year-old acquired along with Wilyer Abreu in the Christian Vazquez trade had his moments at the major league level, hitting .266 with six homers, 19 RBIs and five steals across 49 games, but his defense left much to be desired. 

Valdez committed seven errors in 171 chances at second with the big league club, producing a .959 fielding percentage in 47 appearances at second. Nonetheless, Cora believes Valdez has turned a corner this spring…

“When you feel like you cannot finish plays with your arm, then you’re gonna rush, you’re gonna make bad decisions, and I do believe that’s what happened early on, “ Cora said of Valdez’s defense. “He was better the second time he came up, and now he’s moving well, he’s working hard, he’s in constant communication with (shortstop) Trevor (Story) which is great.”

If Valdez still isn’t ready to handle a major league workload, the Sox found a little something in journeyman middle infielder Pablo Reyes last year. The now 30-year-old hit .287 and stole seven bases while playing all four infield positions across 64 games last season — primarily shortstop and second base. 

“Obviously Pablo can play second too, (but) obviously disappointed in a sense because we wanted Vaughn to get as many reps as possible and hopefully (be) the starting second baseman of the Boston Red Sox,” Cora said. “But I think we’re covered — not covered, we’ve got a good one too — so we’ll keep pairing them up so they can get reps and he’ll be ready.”

Sox sign slugging ex-All-Star to minor league deal 

Craig Breslow is going full steam ahead with his plan of regenerating the careers of diamonds in the rough after reportedly signing recently-turned 34-year-old free agent slugger C.J. Cron to minor league deal. 

Like Lucas Giolito, Michael Fulmer and Liam Hendriks, Cron is a former All-Star who will be looking to resurrect his career in Boston. 

Despite a formidable two-year run with the Colorado Rockies in 2021-22 that saw him slash .268/.343/.496, hit 57 home runs and drive in 194 runs — culminating in his first All-Star selection in 2022 — Cron’s production dipped last season as he hit just .248 with 12 homers and 37 RBIs in 71 games between the Rockies and Los Angeles Angels.

What’s encouraging about Cron is that, unlike Giolito and Fulmer, his best baseball has been played in recent years. He hit .262 and averaged 15 homers and 53 RBIs in his first four MLB seasons, but has seen his power numbers increase over the last six years in his age 28-33 seasons. While the average dipped a bit to .258, Cron has averaged 21 homers and 65 RBIs per year in that timeframe. 

A right-handed hitting first baseman, Cron could potentially carve out a role as a backup or in a platoon with Triston Casas —  as did Justin Turner last season — or potentially spell Masataka Yoshida at DH if he is able to earn a big league roster spot over the next month. 

Furthermore, Cron’s arrival is reportedly intended to give Bobby Dalbec a run for his money as Boston’s backup first baseman. Two years after a commendable 25-homer, 78-RBI campaign in his first full big league season, a 27-year-old Dalbec had a banner year with Triple-A Worcester last season, slugging 33 homers and driving in 79 runs while batting .269.

Dalbec might be the quintessential “Four-A” player, but if given the choice of carrying Dalbec or Cron on the roster (neither of which would be my ideal first choice, mind you), I’d probably go with Dalbec. Not only is he six years younger than Cron, but he gives you more positional versatility with his ability to play third base and shortstop (in case of emergency) in addition to first.

Honoring the Wakefields — Tim and Stacy both

As if Tim Wakefield’s death at the age of 57 due to brain cancer wasn't tragic enough, we learned this week that his 53-year-old wife Stacy succumbed to her own battle with cancer just five months later. 

When a celebrity or athlete dies, it’s common that their life draws all the focus. While Tim Wakefield’s life is certainly worthy of remembrance and celebration, Stacy Wakefield should be remembered for being far more than Tim Wakefield’s wife. 

Stacy Wakefield was heavily involved in philanthropic work at Boston’s Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Three months before her death, and two months after losing her husband — all while battling her own cancer — Stacy returned to Dana Farber Children’s Hospital to deliver presents to children battling cancer.

“To a lot of people she was Tim’s wife, but to us she was definitely her own powerhouse,” longtime Dana Farber Jimmy Fund Clinic director of patient and family programs Lisa Scherber told the AP. “That described her to a T, it’s not what she needed to do at that moment. ... But that was her goal, make sure these kids felt joy.”

The Red Sox have already committed to wearing “49” patches on their uniforms this season to honor Tim Wakefield, but it would be nice to see them find a way to honor Stacy in a similar fashion. 

Her legacy deserves to be just as much a part of Red Sox lore as Tim’s. Rest in peace, Stacy and Tim. You are missed, and you will always be loved.