The Red Sox opted to sign Stephen Drew to be their everyday shortstop in 2013. Before doing so, though, the Sox reportedly checked out an old friend.
Alex Gonzalez, who has since signed with the Brewers, held a workout in Miami in mid-December to prove he’d recovered from ACL surgery, according to MLB.com’s Adam McCalvy. Gonzalez reportedly said that more than a dozen teams sent scouts, including representatives from the Red Sox.
McCalvy reports that Gonzalez even thought the Red Sox might be the best fit for him because they needed a shortstop at the time. Boston opted to sign Drew instead, though, all but ending the chances of Gonzalez reuniting with the Sox for the second time.
Gonzalez, who turned 36 this month and figures to play a backup role in Milwaukee, played for the Red Sox in 2006. He hit .255 with nine home runs and 50 RBIs in 111 games. The defensive-minded shortstop was later sent back to Boston from Cincinnati in 2009, at which point he hit .284 with five home runs and 15 RBIs in 148 at-bats over the span of 44 games.
According to McCalvy, Gonzalez also came close to signing with the Cardinals this offseason before eventually inking a one-year deal with the Brewers.
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