Veteran Red Sox outfielder and reliever trigger opt-outs

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Veteran Red Sox first baseman C.J. Cron and reliever Joely Rodriguez are triggering opt-out clauses in their contracts.
First baseman C.J. Cron and left-hander Joely Rodriguez have both exercised the uniform opt-out provision in their minor-league contracts with the Red Sox, reports Alex Speier of the Boston Globe. Both players were Article XX(B) free agents – six-plus years of service time, finished the season on a major league roster or injured list – who signed minor-league contracts and were thus granted a trio of mandatory opt-out opportunities: five days prior to Opening Day (Friday), May 1 and June 1. The Red Sox will now have 48 hours to either put Cron and/or Rodriguez on the 40-man roster. They’ll have to release either player if they decide against carrying him on the Opening Day roster. Cron, 34, has four seasons of 25-plus homers under his belt and was consistently an above-average hitter from 2014-22. Back and neck injuries tanked his 2023 season, limiting him to 278 plate appearances with a .248/.295/.434 slash, but he has a strong track record of hitting for power – with largely even platoon splits. From 2018