A day after completing his heroic role for the 2018 World Series champion Red Sox, utility man Eduardo Nunez is set to pick up his option, worth $5 million, for next season, according to MLB.com reporter Jesse Sanchez.
Nunez, 31, compiled a .677 OPS over 127 games in the regular season, but proved critical for Boston with timely hitting during the team's title run -- most notably when he knocked a pinch-hit, three-run homer in the seventh inning to give the Red Sox some insurance against the Dodgers in World Series Game 1. Nunez hit .231 (6-for-26) and drove in four runs in the postseason.
Nunez's return gives the Red Sox positional flexibility again in 2019 and could prove particularly helpful while second baseman Dustin Pedroia eases himself back into regular playing time. Nunez logged 74 games at second base and 45 games at third and also has extensive Major League experience at shortstop. The 2018 season marked the first World Series title for Nunez, a career .279 hitter and an All-Star in 2016.