Red Sox Add Brendan Rodgers on Minor League Deal, Still Seeking Infield Starter as Spring Nears
The Boston Red Sox are continuing to reshape their infield picture as spring training draws closer, and their latest move adds another glove-first option to the mix. On February 5, the club signed Brendan Rodgers-a former Gold Glove winner and longtime Colorado Rockies infielder-to a minor league deal with an invitation to spring training.
Rodgers, 29, brings seven years of big-league experience and a reputation for steady defense, particularly at second base. While he’s not expected to be the Opening Day starter, he’ll have a legitimate shot to crack the roster out of camp. And with Boston still without a clear-cut starting infielder, every addition matters.
This move comes just a day after the Red Sox brought in veteran utility man Isiah Kiner-Falefa, another defense-first player, who figures to serve in a backup or support role across the infield. Together, these signings show Boston’s intent to shore up depth, but they also highlight a glaring issue: the team still hasn’t nailed down its starting infield alignment.
Rodgers is a known quantity defensively. He won a Gold Glove at second base in 2022, a season where he posted three outs above average, ranked in the 81st percentile for range, and led the league in both assists (411) and double plays turned (99). Since then, his defense has leveled off to around league average, but the glove remains reliable-something Boston clearly values.
Offensively, Rodgers has had an up-and-down career. He’s a lifetime .261/.313/.401 hitter over 495 games, with flashes of solid production but limited durability.
He’s only topped 100 games in a season three times (2021, ’22, and ’24), and he’s never played more than 137. Last season with the Astros, he made the Opening Day roster but struggled at the plate, slashing just .191/.266/.278 over 43 games.
His year was cut short after a collision during a Triple-A rehab assignment led to a concussion and nasal fracture, landing him on the 60-day injured list.
Still, for a minor league deal, this is a low-risk, potentially high-reward move for Boston. Rodgers has shown he can handle second base at a high level, and if he can regain some offensive consistency, he could be more than just a depth piece.
As it stands, the second base job is wide open heading into camp. Kiner-Falefa, Romy Gonzalez, Nick Sogard, and David Hamilton are all in the mix, and a final infield addition could still be on the way. Gonzalez may have the inside track based on his performance last year, but Rodgers’ glove gives him a real shot to make the roster.
The clock is ticking, though. The longer Boston waits to lock in a starting-caliber infielder, the fewer options remain on the market-and the more expensive those options get.
Rodgers adds value, but he’s not the answer to the starting job. The Red Sox have made a couple of smart, depth-focused moves, but the big one still needs to happen.