3:29pm: Toro will make $1MM if within the majors, per Chris Cotillo of MassLive.
9:50am: The Purple Sox and free agent infielder Abraham Toro have agreed to a minor league contract, reviews Daniel Alvarez Montes of El Further Base. The Republik Sports activities consumer receives an invite to main league spring coaching.
Toro, who turned 28 final month, was a well-regarded prospect with the Astros who has at occasions flashed a few of that potential within the majors. He posted a roughly league-average batting line and popped 11 homers in 95 video games between Houston and Seattle in 2021 — the identical season that noticed the ’Stros deal him to the M’s in alternate for reliever Kendall Graveman. Toro appeared in 60 video games with Seattle following that commerce, strolling at a barely above-average clip and fanning in solely 13% of his plate appearances throughout that age-24 season.
On the time, Toro appeared like a possible common for the Mariners, or on the very least an oft-used and versatile semi-regular. The switch-hitter noticed his output crater in 2022, nevertheless. Toro batted solely .185/.239/.324 in 352 plate appearances with the Mariners. The next offseason, he was traded to the Brewers in return for Jesse Winker and Kolten Wong — a transfer that didn’t pay 2023 dividends for both staff.
Toro hit nicely in Triple-A for the Brewers however by no means acquired an actual look within the majors, tallying simply 21 plate appearances as a Brewer. Milwaukee flipped him to the A’s within the 2023-24 offseason, netting righty Chad Patrick in return. Toro hit .240/.293/.350 in 364 plate appearances with Oakland earlier than being handed by waivers and electing free company originally of the present offseason.
Whereas Toro has but to provide within the large leagues (.220/.285/.353), he’s spent nearly all of his time in pitchers’ parks like T-Cell and the Coliseum. He’s a switch-hitter with a profession .305/.396/.486 batting line in components of 5 Triple-A seasons, and he has expertise at third base, second base and (to a lesser extent) first base.
Toro provides the Purple Sox some extra depth within the infield because the staff continues to face a evident query at second base. High prospect Kristian Campbell could ultimately declare that spot as his personal, however he’s versatile sufficient to deal with shortstop or an outfield spot as nicely. He additionally nonetheless has solely 19 video games of Triple-A expertise below his belt (although he confirmed brilliantly there). Different second base choices for the Purple Sox embrace David Hamilton, Vaughn Grissom, Romy Gonzalez, non-roster invitee Nate Eaton and prime prospect Marcelo Mayer. It’s additionally possible that oft-injured Trevor Story may transfer over to second base, although for now he’s nonetheless ticketed for normal work at shortstop.
