The Red Sox have a franchise cornerstone-sized void they need to fill with shortstop Xander Bogaerts, who is reportedly leaving Boston and heading to the San Diego Padres on an 11-year contract.
Bogaerts, whom Red Sox chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom called the organization’s No. 1 priority this offseason, will reportedly make $280 million over those 11 seasons. It’s quite a financial commitment for the 30-year-old infielder. With Boston’s Plan A heading toward the National League West, the Red Sox must sift through Plans B, C, and D as they attempt to compete in the impossibly deep American League East.
Open market options remain for the Red Sox. Both Carlos Correa and Dansby Swanson, two of the top four shortstops to enter the free hand, are still available. There are other lesser-known veterans at the position as well. However, should the Red Sox choose to stay away from outside additions, they have internal options to fill Bogaerts’ role.
The Red Sox have said both two-time Major League Baseball All-Star shortstop Trevor Story and versatile Kiké Hernández can play the position. Story-wise, the potential for him to switch back to shortstop from second base was a possible outcome once the Red Sox signed him to a six-year, $140 million contract last offseason. Story spent his first six seasons playing shortstop for the Colorado Rockies and recorded a .979 fielding percentage, although his arm strength in the hole was one reason the move to second base made sense. Hernández, on the other hand, has 64 career starts at shortstops with a similar .978 percentage.
Of course, moving Story or Hernández would fill a hole and create a new one. If it turns out the Red Sox are doing this, Boston would have to find a new second baseman or center fielder for each day, depending on which was postponed. These positions don’t have much depth in the open market as midfield is led by Brandon Nimmo and Kevin Kiermaier and second base is highlighted by Jean Segura and Adam Frazier. A swap for an outfielder (maybe Bryan Reynolds?) is not off the table either.
If Story is the one moved to shortstop, which feels like the more likely internal scenario, Christian Arroyo is a viable option to take the bag at second base. However, 27-year-old Arroyo, who has impressed in the line-up, has not proven overly reliable due to injuries. Fellow infielder Jeter Downs, who made his MLB debut for the Red Sox last season and played 14 games, also spent 56 innings (eight games) at second base. There’s a chance Downs could complement Arroyo in that position, although bringing the same pop to the lineup would be difficult for either. This obnoxious production could only exist externally.
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