Red Sox trade minor-leaguer Christian Koss to Giants

The Red Sox traded minor-league infielder Christian Koss to the Giants on Wednesday, per the club’s MLB.com transactions log. As far as a return is concerned, it was presumably for cash considerations.

Koss, 26, had spent the last three seasons in the Red Sox organization after being acquired from the Rockies for left-hander Yoan Aybar in December 2020. The California native was originally selected by Colorado in the 12th round of the 2019 amateur draft out of UC Irvine.

Upon switching organizations for the first time in his professional career, Koss spent the entirety of the 2021 campaign at High-A Greenville. The right-handed hitter batted .271/.325/.451 with 18 doubles, seven triples, 15 home runs, 55 RBIs, 65 runs scored, 31 walks, and 100 strikeouts in 104 games (468 plate appearances). Despite stealing only 10 bases in 14 attempts for the Drive, he was named Boston’s Minor League Baserunner of the Year.

After playing in the Arizona Fall League that fall and receiving his first non-roster invite to major-league camp the following spring, Koss made the jump to Double-A Portland for the start of the 2022 season. He, again, spent all year with the Sea Dogs, slashing .260/.309/.430 with 22 doubles, five triples, 17 homers, 84 RBIs, 69 runs scored, 16 stolen bases, 25 walks, and 137 strikeouts over 125 games (531 plate appearances) en route to being named the team’s MVP.

Koss followed that up by playing winter ball in Puerto Rico and taking part in big-league spring training once more last year. He returned to Portland and spent the first two months of the 2023 season there before netting a promotion to Triple-A Worcester in late May. He then appeared in 16 games for the WooSox before suffering a left toe sprain in late June that cost him nearly a month of action.

Koss spent nearly two weeks rehabbing in the Florida Complex League before being transferred to Worcester’s development list in early August. He returned to the WooSox’ lineup on Aug. 31 and went 15-for-64 (.259) with one home run and three RBIs over 18 games to close out the season. Altogether, he hit .235/.287/.353 to go along with 16 doubles, two triples, four homers, 23 runs driven in, 35 runs scored, 15 stolen bases, 16 walks, and 65 strikeouts across 79 total games (296 plate appearances) between the FCL, Portland, and Worcester in 2023.

It became apparent that Koss had begun to lose favor with the Red Sox this past offseason. He saw limited action in the Puerto Rican Winter League after arriving there in late December and was noticeably left off Boston’s 2024 spring training roster. He instead got into seven Grapefruit League games as a minor-league call-up, going 3-for-6 (.500) with one run scored, two walks, and two strikeouts.

Before Wednesday’s trade, Koss was likely ticketed for a bench or utility role with the WooSox to begin the 2024 season. He will now join a Giants farm system that is seemingly more heavy on pitching than position players. According to his MiLB.com player profile page, he has been assigned to San Francisco’s Double-A affiliate in Richmond, Va.

Koss, who does not turn 27 until next January, peaked as Baseball America’s 26th-ranked Red Sox prospect in 2022. To complement what he has done offensively, the versatile 6-foot-1, 182-pounder has logged innings at every defensive position besides pitcher, catcher, and first base since making his pro debut a little less than five years ago.

In addition to trading Koss, the Red Sox have released several minor-leaguers in recent days. Chief among them are reliever Frank German and catcher Stephen Scott, who were both in camp with Boston as non-roster invitees this spring. Boston also cut ties with right-hander Dylan Spack and outfielder Albertson Asigen.