Why the Red Sox’s newest acquisition ‘had an inkling’ he’d be traded to Boston.
BOSTON — After the Cubs designated him for assignment on April 23, first baseman Garrett Cooper believed the Red Sox may be interested in a trade.
Chicago GM Carter Hawkins informed the 33-year-old Cooper that the Cubs were attempting to negotiate a trade, but Hawkins did not indicate which teams were interested. On Saturday, the Red Sox acquired Cooper for cash. Boston needed a first baseman to replace Triston Casas, who shattered the cartilage that links his ribcage and sternum.
“From what I heard, there were multiple teams involved,” Cooper said Tuesday here at Fenway Park. “So I didn’t really know where or who I was going to. I kind of had a feeling, especially (after) the offseason when I talked to Boston a lot. I talked to (Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig) Breslow on the phone a few times in the offseason. So I always felt like this was a possibility, especially with Triston going down. Just had an inkling that maybe it was Boston throughout the week.”
Cooper learned he was going to Boston on Saturday, when the Red Sox and Cubs faced off in a three-game series at Fenway Park. Cooper wishes he could have arrived earlier to confront his former teammates.
“Would have been nice to come in here and face the team that DFA’d me,” that’s what he stated.
Cooper, a 2022 All-Star, was 10-for-37 (.270) with a.341 on-base percentage,.432 slugging percentage,.774 OPS, one homer, one double, one triple, three runs, six RBIs, four walks, and 13 strikeouts in 12 games for the Cubs.
“I feel like I started the year off well,” Cooper said. “I hit well in the spring. I got a new hitting coach this offseason. And just being accountable every game, sending him video after every game just to make sure the things we worked on in the offseason stayed posture-wise, hands. … In the early going I felt like I was swinging the bat well and just happy to get back out there again.”
Cooper made his MLB debut at Fenway Park on July 14, 2017, as a member of the Yankees.
“I’ve always felt like I’ve hit well here,” Cooper said. “I don’t know the career stats here but I made my debut here in ‘17 with the Yankees. It’s funny to be on this side now. I’ve always loved coming here. Boston is one of my favorite cities. My wife grew up in New Jersey. So we’re close to her family. I’ve always felt like I’ve played well here when I’ve come here.”
He homered here in 2023. He’s 7-for-29 (.241) with a .313 on-base percentage and three extra-base hits in eight games at Fenway.
“I saw Triston got hurt and he was having a great start to the year,” Cooper said. “Now I’m just trying to come in here and just help — whatever the team needs. I’ve heard a bunch of great things about the guys here. So just getting acclimated is the biggest thing. Just excited to get going.”
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