Ex-Red Sox Utility Man Signs Overseas After Opting Out Of Deal With Boston

The Boston Red Sox lost a solid depth piece to open the month, and the versatile position player has now decided to make a major move.

"Niko Goodrum is coming to Korea," Yonhap News' Jeeho Yoo tweeted Tuesday. "Signed with the Lotte Giants at $400,000 for the rest of this season. Goodrum is replacing Zach Reks."

Goodrum hit .280 with 18 extra-base hits including eight home runs, 36 RBIs and an .888 OPS in 65 games for Triple-A Worcester this season. Defensively, he played first base, second base, third base and right field prior to opting out. 

The 31-year-old slugger would have been more-than-capable of handling the utility role for Boston while players like Pablo Reyes, Yu Chang and David Hamilton rotated in and out of the infield. However, the Red Sox did not call Goodrum up at any point despite his experience in the big leagues and success with the WooSox.

Opting out of the Red Sox's contract made sense for Goodrum but the mid-season move to the KBO is quite a shock. 

It's possible that the switch-hitter is aiming to find regular playing time so that he can prime himself for a big-league deal next season, and found a way to do so while essentially studying abroad for a semester.

Most people make the move overseas when it's clear that they cannot get an opportunity or hang in Major League Baseball. Goodrum appeared plenty talented to play stateside this season, making this one of the more peculiar moves in recent memory.

Either way, he'll be someone to root for in Korea and follow this offseason.