Red Sox reportedly trade for 1B Garrett Cooper from Cubs
The deal was reportedly negotiated during Friday night's Cubs-Red Sox game.
One week after Triston Casas suffered a significant rib injury, the Red Sox have reportedly made a trade for a first baseman.
Boston is receiving Garrett Cooper from the Chicago Cubs in exchange for cash, according to MassLive’s Chris Cotillo. The move comes after Bobby Dalbec primarily filled in for Casas at first base following his injury, signaling that the Red Sox wanted an upgrade at the position.
Cooper played in 12 games for the Cubs this season before being designated for assignment earlier this week. The 33-year-old owns a .270 batting average and .341 on-base percentage with six RBI over that span. Cooper also has one home run in 2024.
In contrast, Dalbec is batting .093 with a .152 on-base percentage and one RBI through 18 games this year. He hasn’t hit a homer since September 2023.
Boston will need to make room for Cooper on its 40-man roster by Sunday. Once that happens, contract-wise, the Red Sox will reportedly take on his $1.75 million base salary, per Cotillo.
Given that the Cubs are in town this weekend, the deal was reportedly negotiated and agreed upon face-to-face by Boston’s chief baseball officer Craig Breslow, and Chicago’s president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer during Friday night’s game, according to The Boston Globe’s Alex Speier.
The old school discussion gave the Red Sox a much-needed boost at the position with Casas potentially out for months with torn rib cartilage.
Dalbec was certainly the team’s best defensive option at first base for the time being, but Cooper will help bring a much-needed boost to the lineup while also being a serviceable glove.
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