The Boston Red Sox have reached an agreement with Dalton Guthrie, a versatile player who can fill both infield and outfield positions. The deal, which is a minor league contract, was confirmed through the transaction log at MiLB.com.
Although Guthrie’s playing time in the MLB has been limited over the past two seasons, having only appeared in a combined total of 37 games, he has shown promise. In each of those seasons, he had 28 plate appearances and managed to maintain an impressive batting average of .344/.393/.333. Additionally, Guthrie boasted a walk rate of 16.1%, while striking out 25% of the time.
Aside from his performance in the major leagues, Guthrie has also excelled in Triple-A, where he has accumulated a solid .289/.357/.434 slash line across three seasons. While he may not be known for his power hitting, with only 16 home runs in 856 plate appearances at that level, he has demonstrated strong contact skills and the ability to play multiple positions. Throughout his career, Guthrie has spent significant time at shortstop, second base, third base, and center field, as well as the outfield corners.
In recent times, Guthrie has found himself moving between teams. After being selected by the Philadelphia Phillies in September 2022, he was designated for assignment in June the following year. Eventually, he was traded to the San Francisco Giants for cash considerations. However, he was soon designated for assignment again and subsequently claimed off waivers by the Atlanta Braves. Despite not making an appearance for the Braves, he was once again designated for assignment before the trade deadline. Fortunately, Guthrie successfully cleared waivers. At the end of the season, he elected to become a free agent in the minor leagues.
Guthrie’s addition to the Red Sox brings a right-handed bat to their bench competition. His versatility and experience playing various positions make him a valuable asset as he strives to make his way back to the major leagues. Other bench options currently on Boston’s 40-man roster include Enmanuel Valdez, Rob Refsnyder, Pablo Reyes, Bobby Dalbec, and David Hamilton.