Recent admissions from the front office that the 2024 payroll will remain lower than last year's figure doesn't mean the Red Sox are finished making roster adjustments. They just might not be entirely meaningful.
The White Sox designated infielder/outfielder Romy González for assignment after they signed right-handed pitcher John Brebbia to their 40-man roster. Five days later, the Red Sox picked up González and DFA'd right-handed reliever Zack Weiss, per a team announcement.
González was drafted by Chicago in 2018 and his tenure with the team was fraught with injuries, which have severely limited his playing time across all levels. He's played in just 217 games since joining the White Sox, 86 of those in the majors.
The 27-year-old's major-league hitting record leaves much to be desired, although the sample size of games is quite small. González is a career .222 hitter in the majors and his strikeout rate is concerning — he's whiffed 86 times in 239 plate appearances.
Red Sox have claimed Romy Gonzalez off waivers from the White Sox.
— Tyler Milliken ⚾️ (@tylermilliken_) January 31, 2024
Zach Weiss was DFA’d to open up a spot on the 40-man.
Can help at 3B/2B/SS. Didn’t hit at all in the big leagues the last two seasons. 64 OPS+ in 76 games.pic.twitter.com/Dd9m6DHDe2
Red Sox make additions to both major and minor league rosters
His minor league record is better, but he's still played relatively few games there. In his 87 Double-A and Triple-A games, he's hit .275/.357/.525 with 23 homers.
González is a proficient base stealer, and Baseball Savant ranks him in the 94th percentile in sprint speed — he's right up near the top of the league with fellow speedsterJarren Duran, who ranks in the 96th percentile.
González's 2023 season ended in June and he underwent labrum surgery in August. Despite the surgery and injury history, the utility man is said to be ready to go for Spring Training in just a few weeks.
But the Red Sox aren't just adding to their major-league roster. On Jan. 24, Boston signed former Giants top prospect Melvin Adón to a minor league deal, which just popped up on the transaction wire.
Adón, a right-handed flamethrower, made 43 minor league appearances in 2023. He pitched 59 innings to the tune of a 5.19 ERA, 69 strikeouts and 41 free passes. The 29-year-old has spent his entire career with the Giants in their minor league system and will likely begin his 2024 season in Worcester.
Adón has occasionally reached elite velocity levels, approaching 102 MPH, but is most consistent in the mid-90s. The reliever has struggled with injuries throughout his career, likely what has been keeping him in the minors for so many years.
With any luck, the Red Sox can take the two injury-prone, mostly minor-league players and turn them into useful additions to the major-league roster. González could ultimately serve as a good backup second baseman for fellow new addition Vaughn Grissom, and Adón could add some serious velocity to the bullpen with the right amount of help.