The Red Sox and Yankees have long carried hatred toward one another, which won't change anytime soon. Baseball is better for having a rivalry that is so well-known — it makes for some entertaining games.
One former Yankee, in particular, has a nasty history with the Red Sox. All of Red Sox Nation likely has a negative memory associated with Alex Rodriguez during his time in a Yankees uniform. It's hard to forget the brawl he started with Jason Varitek.
One of A-Rod's family members could find themselves in the good graces of Boston fans. According to the Red Sox minor league transaction log, Boston signed infielder Joe Dunand who happens to be the nephew of Rodriguez. He was signed to a minor league deal on January 31.
Dunand is a 28-year-old who made his MLB debut in 2022 with the Miami Marlins. It wasn't a very long stint and he was 3-for-10 over that time with a home run under his belt. He spent the 2023 season in the Atlanta Braves system, posting a .268 average including 17 home runs with the Gwinnett Stripers, Atlanta's Triple-A affiliate.
The Red Sox have signed Joe Dunand, former Yankee Alex Rodriguez's nephew, to a minor-league deal
Red Sox announce three non roster adds to camp, all previously reported:
— Chris Cotillo (@ChrisCotillo) February 8, 2024
RHP Melvin Adón and INF/OFs Joe Dunand and Dalton Guthrie.
Rodriguez's nephew has been assigned to Worcester and will likely spend most of the 2024 season in Triple-A. He offers Boston an infield option if it needs it due to injury or other extenuating circumstances but it would like to see him increase his walk rate and cut down on strikeouts before he's called up. His .843 OPS in 2023 is encouraging and shows the ability to drive the ball.
Many Red Sox fans will remember Rodriguez was almost in a Boston uniform due to a potential trade from 2004. The deal was axed by MLBPA due to the contract changes and lower salary for A-Rod. They feared this would set a bad precedent for players across the league.
Rodriguez ended up with the Yankees and became a villain to all Red Sox fans for over a decade. Maybe Dunand can become a great piece for Boston and give fans something to celebrate. Or maybe he never makes it to the bigs in a Sox uniform and the Rodriguez line continues to carry a sour taste for Boston fans.