As expected, Eduardo Nunez has exercised his $5MM player option to return to the Boston Red Sox for the 2019 season, Jason Mastrodonato of the Boston Herald was among those to confirm (via Twitter).
Nunez certainly earned his keep with some big hits this postseason, but it was a rough year all-in-all for the infielder. Nunez hit only .256/.289/.388 during the regular season, his first full season with Boston.
The Red Sox acquired Nunez in July of 2017 from the San Francisco Giants for a pair of minor leaguers and was re-signed last offseason for $4MM. Nunez stays with the team via a $5MM player option, selected over a $2MM buyout that would have returned the 31-year-old infielder to the free agent market.
Next season, Nunez figures to serve as a bench option for Alex Cora. His ability to play all three infield positions makes him valuable over the course of a long 162-game season, when he can spell Rafael Devers against tough left-handers and serve as depth in the middle infield, specifically second, one of the Red Sox’ few question marks heading into the offseason.
For his career, Nunez has played eight years in the big leagues with the Yankees, Twins, Giants and Red Sox. He split 2018 between second base and third base, but he came into the majors as a shortstop and has also spent limited time in the outfield corners. Nunez is a lifetime .279/.314/.410 hitter.
He’s a good bench player. Glad he’s back.
Yes he will also be a good mentor for young Devers!
If he stays. Team can always attempt to get better and then trade him. Not worried about his bat but I am concerned about his injuries affecting his at best average defense at third. Thank god Holt played better than expected at second.
When is Steve Pearce’s contract ending?
He’s a free agent
Dang it! I thought he would go for money this offseason. Good job by Boston to bring him back. He will be a good role model for Devers. He can play both short and third if they need Bogaerts or Devers to take a break.
Player option, not team option. Boston didn’t bring him back, Nunez chose to.
He went for the money last offseason, and couldn’t find a taker.
Negative 1.1 war. Shouldn’t he play for free??
Shouldn’t you work for free?
And that ladies and gentlemen, is how u spot a troll.
Nunez hit a pinch-hit three run bomb off Alex Wood, bottom of the seventh to make it a four run lead, a score which stuck, gave the Red Sox a 1-0 series lead.
2018: hit .265 with 10 homers, 74 games @ 2B, 45 at 3B. Sure, -14 DRS at 2B, -4 DRS at 3B but underrated contributed to their WS run…. Think playing injured!!
I tip my cap to Sox, best team in the game in 2018 without a doubt.
But Nunez is one of those players who lucked himself into a good position and benefited from a great team around him, and he will forever be thanking the other 24 guys for getting him that ring.
Of course he’s picked up the option. The Sox make him look like a decent player.
So, was Nunez a bad player before the trade to Boston?
Stupid is as stupid does.
Hey! Got a new phone today.
But this place still looks like a dump!
had it been a team option i suspect the sox would’ve picked it up
So, are the Sox a new version of the 2015 Royals or are they more like the ’95-and-up Yankees dynasty? JBJ, Devers and an unknown catcher and 1B/2B are going to have to emerge for me to answer that question.
What is the new version of the 2015 royals? I can tell you Boston will 100% be in the playoffs next season. They aren’t a small market franchise who tapped out their resources to win a title. There’s absolutely no correlation between those two teams other than they won a WS. Boston has legitimate star power. Betts is better than anyone KC had.. Sale is an ace. Their secondary pieces are certainly better. And most importantly the Red Sox can afford to keep their team together in the long run.