The Boston Red Sox pulled off a massive trade Sunday when they acquired first baseman/catcher/designated hitter Willson Contreras in a trade with the St. Louis Cardinals.

On the same day, a former top 100 Red Sox prospect choice to continue his professional career overseas.

According to a post on "X" from Gaijin Baseball (@GaijinBaseball), first baseman Bobby Dalbec has signed a deal with the Yomiuri Giants of Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball. The terms of the deal are not yet released.

According to Gaijin Baseball's post, this isn't the first time Dalbec has been targeted by an NPB team. He was reportedly considered a potential target for the Hanshin Tigers in 2024.

Dalbec will also come over with somewhat lofty expectations. According to Gaijin Baseball, the Giants brought over Dalbec to take over for corner infielder Kazuma Okamoto, who was posted to sign with a major league club. He is one of the highest-profile remaining free agents.

Dalbec was originally selected by Boston in the fourth round of the 2016 MLB Draft out of Arizona.

The 30-year-old first baseman was considered one of the better prospects in the club's farm system for several years. He was ranked as the 92nd-best prospect in baseball at the end of the season in 2021 according to MLB Pipeline.

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Dalbec made his major league debut in COVID-19-shortened 2020 season. He scored 13 runs in 23 games, and hit three doubles and eight home runs with 16 RBIs. He slashed .263/.359/.600 with a .959 OPS.

Dalbec posted another decent year in 2021. In 133 games, he hit 21 doubles, five triples and 25 homers with 78 RBIs, and he slashed .240/.298/.494 with a .792 OPS.

Dalbec has struggled since to replicate the production in the majors he had in '20-21. He hasn't played more than 117 games in a single season and hasn't registered an OPS higher than .652 since '21.

From 2023-25, Dalbec has played 55 total big-league games.

Dalbec was designated for assignment by the Red Sox on Sept. 8, 2024, and was sent outright to the Triple-A Worcester Red Sox two days later. He elected free agency after that season and was signed by the Chicago White Sox to a minor league contract Jan. 7.

Dalbec scored twice in seven games for the White Sox this past season. He hit a double, had an RBI and slashed .222/.333/.278 with a .611 OPS.

Dalbec elected free agency May 6 after he was DFA'd by Chicago. He signed a minor league deal with the Milwaukee Brewers on May 10, was released Aug. 4 and signed a minor league deal with the Kansas City Royals on Aug. 8.

Across his time at the Triple-A level with the White Sox, Brewers and Royals, Dalbec scored 65 times in 105 games, hitting 27 doubles, two triples and 24 homers with 82 RBIs. He slashed .269/.349/.525 with an .874 OPS.

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