FORT MYERS, Fla. — Manager Alex Cora said Monday that the Red Sox are “still engaged” in the free agent market with interest in both position players and pitchers.
“We’re trying to improve. And if there’s an opportunity to do that, I bet we’ll jump on it,” Cora said.
The Red Sox are left-handed hitter heavy. So they are believed to be looking to add a right-handed hitter. Boston had interest in right-handed hitting Gio Urshela but he agreed to a one-year, $1.5 million deal with the Tigers on Friday. Right-handed hitters who remain unsigned include Adam Duvall, Tommy Pham, Michael A. Taylor, Donovan Solano and C.J. Cron.
Romy Gonzalez, a 27-year-old infielder and outfielder, is one of the internal right-handed hitting options on the 40-man roster fighting for a spot. As the Red Sox survey the market, Gonzalez is confident he can fill that role.
“Obviously a goal of mine is definitely to break with the team and help in any way I can,” Gonzalez said. “When I’m healthy I feel like I’m just as good as anybody. I’m very confident in my ability. I’m very excited just for the opportunity to be there.”
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Boston claimed Gonzalez off waivers from the White Sox on Jan. 31. He played in 86 major league games for the White Sox from 2021-23. He’s made 46 starts at second base, seven starts in right field, four starts at shortstop, three starts at third base and three starts in left field.
He has minor league options remaining and so the Red Sox have the ability to option him to Triple-A Worcester.
“I bring a certain level of athleticism to the diamond, especially on the base paths,” he said. “I love running the bases, creating chaos. And obviously defensive versatility — I’m very comfortable anywhere you put me.”
Gonzalez has a .258/.338/.457/.795 line in 286 games (1,186 plate appearances) in the minors. He has a .222/.239/.361/.600 line in 239 plate appearances in the big leagues. He belted 24 homers in 93 games between Double A and Triple A in 2021.
“I’m a bigger guy,” he said. “I like to get my hands extended and drive the ball to the gaps.
“I’m really honing in on cutting down the swings-and-misses and chasing outside of the zone,” he added. “Last year was kind of a tricky year. I tore my labrum in my bicep the second week of the season. I was grinding through that for a bit. So I feel like I had to cheat to get to pitches. But this year I’m feeling as healthy as ever.”
Gonzalez said he was “extremely excited” when the Red Sox claimed him because he would have the chance to play for fellow Miami alum Alex Cora.
“Obviously AC went to UM,” he said. “So we have that connection. And there’s some other guys here who I’ve played with like Lucas (Giolito) and Liam (Hendriks). So there’s a lot of familiar faces.”
Gonzalez said Cora visited Miami to speak with the team when he was a student-athlete there.
“But I never spoke to him individually,” Gonzalez said. “I met him actually officially at the alumni game. He was starting at short. It was pretty sick.”
The alumni game took place Feb. 10, the Saturday before spring training began.
“He looked really good. Real smooth,” Gonzalez said. “He’s still working with us out there. He looks just like one of us.”
Gonzalez described playing for Cora so far as “awesome.”
“He’s an incredible human. Obviously he’s a tremendous coach, a World Series winner,” Gonzalez said. “I’m just super grateful to be here.”
Gonzalez joins Jarren Duran, Tyler O’Neill and non-roster invitee Cam Booser who all are built like bodybuilders. Duran actually pointed out Gonzalez’s strong physique to MassLive.
“J.D.’s massive,” Gonzalez said. “The guy’s in shape. That means a lot coming from him. But yeah, we’ve got some big, physical guys and a lot of guys who can do a lot of things on the diamond.”
Gonzalez said he began “eating more and pushing more weight” in 2020.
“I think the COVID year really changed my career,” he said. “I really took it seriously. I was always strong but I was not as strong as I am now obviously. During that COVID year, our minor league season got canceled and I didn’t really take time off. I just continued to work my butt off. And the following year I got called up.”
