DETROIT, Mich. — The Detroit Tigers are adding infield depth for next season, picking up Tsung-Che Cheng in a cash deal with Boston, a Red Sox team source said Thursday night.
Cheng, 25, is a Taiwan native whose calling card is his glove. He played shortstop for Boston in 14 major league games from late June to mid-July, stepping in while Trevor Story was sidelined with a sports hernia. He hit .256 with five RBI and no home runs in that stretch.
Most of his 2026 season came at Triple-A Worcester, where he played 94 games and batted .241 with eight homers, 30 RBI, 10 stolen bases and a .735 OPS. Before the season he also suited up for Chinese Taipei in the World Baseball Classic.
Cheng began his pro career with the Pittsburgh Pirates, who gave him $380,000 to sign out of Taiwan in 2019, and he was ranked as Pittsburgh’s No. 9 prospect heading into 2024 on the strength of his speed, defense and plate discipline.
For Boston, the trade frees a 40-man roster spot. The Red Sox also sent outfielder Nate Eaton to the Athletics on Thursday and still need to clear room for seven players due back from the 60-day injured list by Monday.
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