REPORT: Giants trade utility player Blake Sabol to Red Sox for international bonus-pool money

Blake Sabol, who spent the 2023 season with the San Francisco Giants after being acquired as a Rule 5 player, is now on his way to the Boston Red Sox in a trade. Known for his versatility as a left-handed hitter with catching experience, Sabol showed promise but didn’t develop enough defensively to secure consistent playing time behind the plate. Most of his 2023 season was spent with Triple-A Sacramento, where he hit .245 with 12 home runs, following a .236 season with 13 homers for the Giants in 2023. Sabol, 27, played only 11 games with the Giants last year, batting .313 with two doubles.

The Giants designated Sabol for assignment after signing pitcher Justin Verlander. In exchange for Sabol, the Red Sox sent international bonus-pool money to San Francisco. The Giants also dealt minor-league pitcher Will Kempner to Miami for additional bonus-pool funds, increasing their pool to at least $6.1 million. This move supported their recent international signings, including 17-year-old shortstop Josuar Gonzalez, whose $3 million deal was one of the largest reported.

Kempner, 23, is a San Jose native who pitched at Gonzaga. After missing the previous season due to a foot injury, he recorded a 3.73 ERA with 78 strikeouts across 62 2/3 innings in 2023. Additionally, the Giants lost reliever Austin Warren, 28, to the New York Mets on waivers. Warren, recovering from Tommy John surgery, pitched six games for San Francisco last season, allowing two runs in 10 2/3 innings.