Report: Red Sox scouted 3 Mets IFs in search for 3rd baseman
After missing out on acquiring Todd Frazier Tuesday night, the search for a solution at the hot corner appears to have widened significantly for the Boston Red Sox.
Boston has reportedly scouted three New York Mets infielders - Asdrubal Cabrera, T.J. Rivera, and Wilmer Flores - as potential third base options, according to Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports.
Whether the sides have had any trade talks remains unclear.
Cabrera, who demanded a trade from Queens earlier in the season before retracting the request days later, is enjoying a solid season at the plate with a .740 OPS, nine homers, 11 doubles, and 27 walks. However, he's a natural shortstop and second baseman with limited experience at third. The 31-year-old's lone big-league appearance at the hot corner came during his major-league debut with Cleveland on Aug. 8, 2007.
Rivera is a utility man who can play both corner infield spots as well as second base, but has spent more time at third than any other position. The 28-year-old second-year big-leaguer has been a valuable contributor for the Mets off the bench, with a .296/.341/.450 slash line, five homers, and 12 doubles.
Flores has also played multiple infield positions, including third base, and owns a .280/.310/.445 slash line with seven homers. The 25-year-old has not been great with the glove, though, having contributed minus-2.7 defensive Wins Above Replacement, per Fangraphs, while seeing time at three positions in 2017.
The Mets have an $8.5-million club option on Cabrera for 2018. Flores has two years of arbitration remaining, while Rivera is a rookie who would be under team control for several seasons to come.
Boston has cycled through seven different third basemen this season, and together they've contributed a .606 OPS, seven home runs, and minus-0.7 WAR - the second-worst total production at the position in baseball.
Besides the trio of Mets infielders, Heyman reported that the Red Sox are at least considering three other possible trade alternatives in Pittsburgh Pirates All-Star Josh Harrison, San Diego Padres infielder Yangervis Solarte, and Oakland Athletics infielder Jed Lowrie, who began his career in Boston.
The Red Sox were reportedly in hot pursuit of Frazier, formerly of the Chicago White Sox, before Tuesday night's seven-player blockbuster sent him to the rival New York Yankees instead.