After seven years in the Boston Red Sox's system, minor league corner infielder Bobby Dalbec has become a free agent.
Dalbec headlines a list of Sox minor leaguers to hit the open market this year, including Brad Keller, Jamie Westbrook, Reese McGuire, Yohan Ramírez and Naoyuki Uwasawa.
Dalbec was designated for assignment on Sept. 8 to a chorus of mixed emotions from fans. Some members of Red Sox Nation were excited to see him go and others were devastated he couldn't post long-term success in the big leagues. The same emotions have carried over to his free agency.
The infielder had some great moments in his short major league tenure. Dalbec became a staple of the Red Sox team that made it to the ALCS in 2021, against all odds. That year, Dalbec posted 133 games in the big leagues, the most of any season in his career, and he batted .240/.298/.494 with a .792 OPS, 21 doubles, five triples and 25 homers.
Longtime Red Sox minor leaguer Bobby Dalbec enters free agency
12 Players Elect Free Agency https://t.co/k7fRUaIA1J pic.twitter.com/G8boq956h9
— MLB Trade Rumors (@mlbtraderumors) November 3, 2024
After what many fans expected to be his breakout season, Dalbec's playing time in the big leagues only decreased. He departed the Red Sox organization on Nov. 2 with a .222/.290/.425 slash line and a .715 OPS in 331 major league games. 2024 was his worst year in the big leagues yet — he batted .133/.217/.193 with 43 strikeouts in 37 games.
Despite his struggles with the Red Sox, Dalbec consistently performed in the minor leagues. He batted .261/.360/.512 with a .872 OPS in 607 over his seven years in Boston's minor league system, mostly spent with the WooSox. Dalbec still has power behind his bat, and he cashed in on 33 homers in 2023 and 20 in 2024.
There were plenty of opportunities for the Red Sox organization to trade Dalbec to get him out of the system and grant him a shot at a professional career elsewhere. With Triston Casas as Boston's everyday first baseman and face of the franchise Rafael Devers at third, there wasn't a place for Dalbec on the team. Rumors surfaced that the Sox considered trading him in 2023, but a deal never materialized.
Hopefully, Dalbec's years of experience will fetch him an opportunity with another ballclub. He didn't enter free agency on the highest note after the 2024 season, but maybe a change of scenery is all he needs to break out again.