What Alex Cora ‘Hated To Say’ After Red Sox DFA’d Bobby Dalbec

The Red Sox called an end to the Bobby Dalbec experiment Sunday morning.

Boston designated Dalbec for assignment a few hours before its series finale against the Chicago White Sox at Fenway Park. Once a highly touted prospect who impressed as a rookie, Dalbec never found consistent success with the Red Sox and became primarily a minor-league player for the organization the last two seasons.

The DFA doesn’t necessarily mean Boston is done with Dalbec for good. The sides could work out a new arrangement if the 29-year-old clears waivers. But when asked if a change of scenery could benefit the 2016 fourth-round pick, Red Sox manager Alex Cora suggested it might be time for the sides to go their separate ways.

“I hate to say that, right, but it’s happened before,” Cora told reporters, per MassLive’s Christopher Smith. “Like I said, let’s see what happens in the upcoming days and we’ll know more.”

Cora probably is right. The Red Sox tried a few different things with Dalbec, but none of the role changes worked out. And for Dalbec himself, he might prefer new surroundings with a clean slate and a better opportunity at returning to the big leagues.