When injuries pushed the Red Sox to promote top prospect Michael Chavis earlier this season, the length of time for which he’d stick in the Majors was uncertain. Dustin Pedroia, Brock Holt and Eduardo Nunez all represented veteran options at second base — a position which Chavis was and is still learning — and the promotion of any prospect never comes with a guarantee of permanence.
But Chavis has burst onto the scene in Boston, hitting at a .293/.423/.638 clip with six long balls through his first 71 plate appearances. His 26.8 percent strikeout rate and 14.9 percent swinging-strike rate are higher than the organization would prefer, but Chavis has also already drawn a dozen walks, demonstrating some selectivity at the plate.
Boston has already played him at second base, third base and first base, and the team is at least tinkering with the idea of using Chavis in the outfield, as MLB.com’s Ian Browne was among those to report. Chavis doesn’t have professional experience at any of the three outfield slots but he’s been working on tracking some fly-balls during batting practice. Manager Alex Cora was clear to state that Chavis isn’t yet working at learning the outfield. But, Cora added, “It’ll be good for him just to stand there and see the flight of the ball.”
It’s a notable for the Red Sox for a number of reasons. Keeping Chavis at the big league level would keep one of their hottest hitters in the lineup on a regular basis and could help to spell regulars at multiple spots. Furthermore, it’d create an interesting roster dilemma in the event that the Red Sox ever manage to get all of their infield options healthy. Chavis, to this point, has produced more offense than could be expected of either Holt or Nunez, both of whom would stand to lose playing time to him in an injury-free scenario. It’s not yet clear when Holt will return to the club, but Alex Speier of the Boston Globe tweets that following a recent painkilling injection in his shoulder, Holt is hopeful he’ll begin a new minor league rehab assignment soon. Nunez is currently healthy but has hit just .189/.200/.264 through a small sample of 56 PAs.
Pedroia, meanwhile, is already on a minor league rehab assignment. The veteran has long been one of the cornerstones of the franchise but has played in precisely nine games dating back to Opening Day 2018 due to injuries of his own. A return to form for Pedroia would give the Sox the cliched “good problem to have,” but at this point it’s hard to know what to expect from the 35-year-old.
From a service time vantage point, the decision to keep Chavis in the big leagues has its own ramifications. Chavis was promoted with enough time having lapsed that the Sox will control him for one more season than they would have had he broken camp with the club, but he lines up as a surefire Super Two player. Barring an early-career extension, that’d give Chavis a bite at his first seven-figure salary in 2022 rather than 2023, and his three subsequent arbitration salaries would be greater based on that early entry into the process.
Of course, even if Chavis sticks in the big leagues for the time being, he’s not immune to being optioned out later in the season. A prolonged slump could land him back in Pawtucket long enough to alter his arbitration or even his free-agent trajectory. But it’s plenty notable that he’s already impressed to the point where he’s forcing the issue and setting the Sox up for some tough decisions about playing time and potentially even roster spots.
DarkSide830
might as well have him pitch while you’re at it
petrie000
I mean, if they wanna let him watch the bullpen sessions of the starters just to see if he’s got any aptitude for it, can it hurt?
DarkSide830
might as well
WFG1
B. Swihart 2.0(?)
123redsox
Swihart has never been as good as Chavis has been in 75 place appearances at the plate.
delete
Idk their minor league records look pretty similar to me. Both about .250/.320/.450. Hard pass, especially with the defensive liability of Chavis in the outfield. Just another product of the Boston hype machine
sorroxi
Wrong, Chavis owns a 855. OPS
For his career in AA & AAA.
Swihart owns a 710. OPS for his career between AA & AAA
You’re Lying
vtadave
Actually for AA / AAA combined, it’s;
Chavis: .266/.335/.510
Swihart: .264/.321`/.395
Chavis is obviously better.
delete
Who was talking about only two levels of the minors? Not me. Nice cherrypicking
Bruin1012
Chavis has much more power then Swihart. If Chavis can keep his strikeout rate in the mid 20’s he is a legit big leaguer. His Power is very legit. I’m just not sold that he won’t strike out in the 30’s once the league adjusts. The dude does have legit power and in this day an age maybe you can live with the K’s.
Bruin1012
Yup beisbolista that Red Sox hype machine churned Betts, Bogey, Pedroia, 10d, Devers, Vasquez, Bradley Jr. enough guys to win a championship. Every team hyped there prospects not just the Red Sox. Your Yankees are just as guilty of that as the Red Sox.
deweybelongsinthehall
Mookie Betts 2.0? Swihart had a freak injury. With too many pitchers now occupying the typical MLB roster, playing multiple positions is important. Look at Brock Holt for example.
slapnuts
Was thinking those same exact thing
tealmarlin
They should let play Rusney, dude has been wrecking in AAA and other leagues since he was sent down.
mikemac
Unfortunately he makes too much money; bringing up his $11.7m salary would cost them over $16m with luxury tax plus the draft pick ramifications.
deweybelongsinthehall
Disney got the money so it’s hard to feel bad but the grandfather rule ruined any shot of him getting back to the big leagues until his contract starts to run out.
thefenwayfaithful 2
Luxury tax implications make it completely impossible. Even if he was hitting .600 they couldn’t call him up right now. Sad for Rusney.
Bernie's Dander
Don’t feel toooo bad for Rusney. We should all have his problems.
jbigz12
Yeah I mean he isn’t exactly mike trout at AAA either. The numbers are fine and all but he looks like a fringe fourth outfielder. And he’s also taking home 11 million per for his struggles. Not a bad gig considering the type of player he is would be getting about 2-3 million in the major leagues.
delete
He’s 31. If he’s not crushing minor league pitching by now it’s a problem. And he’s actually not. Look at his SLG. Also walking at a low rate. This guy would absolutely flop against major league pitching.
mikemac
According to Roster Resource JBJ has an option left…just sayin’
Yort
He really can’t hit to save his life, every once in a blue moon he gets a clutch hit but it’s so hard to root for him when he’s in the batters box. But then again his constant run saving gems are always exciting. A stint in AAA shouldn’t hurt him, but the Sox wouldn’t look too good sending reigning ALCS MVP down.
mikemac
I know…but something needs to be done. As good as he is defensively his DRS doesn’t outweigh his lack of offense.
It really depends on Pedroia; if he can play everyday I’d be OK with Chavis going down to test LF then bring him back if its a success.
Pearce in LF and JBJ to the bench until the 7th works…at least to see if Pearce can hit more consistently than JBJ
Some have suggested JDM in LF, that doesn’t as you would need to remove a bat to get JBJ in late for defense
Until Pedroia proves he can play everyday I would leave Chavis at 2B with Nunez, Holt, etc on the bench BUT Bradley does have an option left to use which goes away if he’s back in 2020; (I think he’ll be non-tendered/traded). Bradley’s bat needs to be “fixed” this season or he’s just another Leonys Martin
deweybelongsinthehall
I wish Pedie was a guarantee. If others hit, JBJ is fine in center. As good as Mookie is in right, the team won last year in large part on great hitting, clutch pitching when it mattered and amazing defense. Moving Mookie or even Bennie to center hurts or even all three outfield positions. At worst, JBJ is a defensive replacement.
mikedickinson
Benny to CF and Chavis to LF. Can’t put the kid in RF at Fenway.
delete
You can’t put him in left field either
sorroxi
Yes you can, Sam Travis comes to mind So does Tzu-Wei Lin.
Chavis is already a Utility Player, why not try & see if you can expand his toolset even more
delete
Whatever, his bat doesn’t play at any position
deweybelongsinthehall
JDM is also usable in the outfield part time. Either Chavis or Pedie could DH.
ronnsnow
Why? Fenway might be the easiest LF to play in baseball.
thefenwayfaithful 2
What’s interesting to me here is that the Red Sox have not learned their lesson (nor has much of baseball). If you have to have a guy change positions once or twice, no big deal. Shifting a guy around the diamond and expecting him to maintain his performance at the plate proves devastating every time to overall performance. There’s a reason that guys like Ben Zobrist don’t come around often. The Red Sox need to slot him in at 2B, write it in a marker until he proves he can’t play the position, and move on. Feel bad for Pedey, but at this point, we know exactly what Holt/Nunez/Pedroia are.
Someone has to go.
Creative thought since he’s blocked at all of his natural positions except 2B, sell high on him and see what the market offers back. The PED suspension may hurt some, but he was always a well-regarded prospect. There’s no reason to believe that he hasn’t taken that next step. Not to say he doesn’t need to cut down on the swing and miss, but the sample size is large enough that a team might overpay. Haven’t even begun to go down the path of who, but the Sox need to find a way to restock the farm and they just resigned 2 guys who were set to hit free agency and bring back draft picks. This is obviously a crazy idea, but the Sox playoff odds sunk fast and they are still an injury or two away from a bad position with almost no room under the cap. Have to get creative somewhere and avoid Blake Swihart-ing him (yes I’m coining that term).
AtlSoxFan
The answer is simple – nunez rides the pine.
What’s worth more, not messing with what works right now, or, getting that red-hot nunez bat and slick glove back at 2B?
Sheesh, nunez is gone after this season anyways. There is nothing, NOTHING there that chavis isn’t an upgrade above and beyond.
Dusty needs some time before thinking about coming back. A DH/2B role will be just fine for now.
PiratesFan1981
More and more clubs are doing this to players to improve their overall worth. It’s working more then you give credit for. Nick Senzel of the Reds (how ever his last name is spelt) is prime example of a guy getting moved around and still being successful. There was a time when Josh Harrison (formerly of the Pirates) played 5 positions in his best year. Another Pirate is Adam Frazier who (up until late last year) played 4 positions and was pretty good.
Every team is trying to be versatile and knowing multiple positions in this new era of baseball, isn’t going to ruin a player. Lately, it improved a players worth and kept them in the big leagues by knowing several positions. When a position does come available, those guys I listed above, got their shot and took it. Again, knowing multiple positions give you credibility for when a position opens up through injury or by another player moving on from the club and opening a position. I rather have guys who can play 3-4 positions, than a guy who can only play 1 and half.
AtlSoxFan
However, in this case Chavis can play 1b 2b and 3b.
1b has Pearce (2019FA) and Moreland (2019FA)
2b has Pedroia (attempting first ever come back from this surgery type)
3b has Devers (the error making machine)
Utility IF are the underwhelming nunez (2019FA) and Holt (2019FA)
Compare this to the recent experiments of putting swihart in the OF (foot injury, never really came back to what he was) and putting hanley in the OF (shoulder injury, never really came back to what he was)
So the question is….. WHY?
If the infield was crewed by young pre-arb studs I’d see finding a place to crack the roster maybe – and in the minors. But to learn a new, wholly foreign position, at the mlb level, when there are and will be openings you have experience?
Asking, BEGGING, for trouble
jbigz12
2B is a long term hole obviously Because Pedroia looks just about cooked. But they may think RF is the long term hole. JBJ is looking like a non tender candidate and they may want Chavis in RF or LF long term while sliding Betts or benintendi over. Chavis is not a great defensive player especially at 2B which he has only started playing recently and they may think his skillset is better suited for OF work. Though I think he ultimately ends up at 1B.
AtlSoxFan
Problem is, you’re talking a guy who doesn’t have range even in the IF where there’s questions he’d ever stick at 3B. That doesn’t translate well into OF defense.
Fenway the RF needs to be played by a CF-capable player. It’s too big. Not to mention his throwing ability is so-so to, where again, there were questions before about that being a factor at 3B.
I think I like him at 1B, although I wonder he shouldn’t get some looks at 3B if devers can’t get his act together error wise. If chavis plays a solid if unspectacular 3B, and eliminates the error machine at 3B by sticking Raffy at 1B, that’s also an option
delete
If it makes you feel any better, dramatic regression is coming regardless of if he changes positions. Look at his career minor league triple slash. Don’t get drawn in by the Red Sox hype machine
Bruin1012
According to WRC+ Chavis has been a well above average minor league hitter. Using his minor league slash line is a poor argument mr. beisbolista. If you want to say that big league pitchers are going to take advantage of that big swing of his then that is a good argument for regression. If he can maintain that mid 20’s k percentage then he is legit because his power is absolutely legit.
andrewf
Adding Hector Noesi would have been a good idea if he was getting ground balls. fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=3292&posit…
Ashtem
Potential replacement for JBJ so him in Left and Benny to CF
Nick Stevens
Do the RedSox win last night if JBJ isn’t in CF? And who won the 2018 ALCS MVP?
Yort
I say move devers to first and Chavis third, if not this season at least next
AtlSoxFan
No, just no. I’m sure the thought was “well, mookie went from 2b to OF so….” but haven’t we learned anything from the blake fiasco?
jbigz12
Chavis isn’t a 2B by trade either. Swihart also never really hit. We were always told he was going to hit and then he never hit. Really at any level. He had one nice minor league season and the projections just shot up from there. Chavis has hit a lot in the minors. Every situation can’t be Blake swihart either..i think they just want JBJ’s anemic bat out of the lineup if possible.
AtlSoxFan
Blakes bat has no bearing here. It’s more about sticking an unprepared player with zero OF experience somewhere he doesn’t belong, and begging for an injury that derails him further.
Hanram going to the OF is also a nice comp.
Maybe there’s some natural untapped instinct where he instantly can get a good read on the ball and make a quick break on it, but I kinda doubt it. Kid doesn’t have any hs or MiLB experience in the OF, unlike others who at least had time there before being shuffled out.
Question remains, why does Cora base who moves to the OF/bench based on seniority rather than talent?
Nothing about nunez says play him first, and Holt is a capable if unspectacular OF’er – certainly better than a raw chavis.
darkstar61
The ball honestly rarely even goes to the Outfield – especially these days, when more and more hitters are becoming 3 true outcome guys with major shift issues.
Specifically, the Red Sox have played 38 games and seen just 61 BIZ to CF (1.6/g,) 55 to RF (1.4/g) and merely 40 to LF (1.1/g) – with most all being extremely routine
Outfield defense has become one of the most overvalued commodities in baseball, and more and more I think you will see especially the Advanced Stat driven teams showing that in their decisions.
thecoffinnail
I believe we were told that Swihart was going to hit well for a catcher. Serious difference between his bat’s projection and that of Chavis. Swihart never hit because he got injured right away and then never saw steady playing time after. Both Swihart and Bird should have been sent back down to get everyday at bats when they returned. There is no one to blame for their production but their teams.
delete
Blake was never a good hitter to begin with, so actually he is a good comp for Chavis, whose career minor league triple slash is like .250/.320/.450
sorroxi
Chavis owns a .855 OPS in AA & AAA
Swihart owns a .710 OPS in AA & AAA
Stop Spreading False information
delete
Stop cherry picking – there are more than two levels in the minors
gomerhodge71
I smell a Swihartian ankle injury here. And why? So Cora’s buddy, Pedroia, can come back, take over second base and stink the place up? Pedroia is done and needs to retire. This is a prime example of a has-been robbing a prospect of a roster position.
sorroxi
Has nothing to do with Chavis, it’s more to do with Nunez Role (Semi Utility)
& it’s gonna be Fvcking awesome when your pulling your hair when Pedroia is getting his position back
nickyfives
Keep him at 2b and everything will be alright
lucienbel
As much as I like Pedroia and have endless memories of what he’s done for this team, Chavis needs to stick at second until he shows he can’t.
bigdaddyk
As a chavis fantasy Owner the more Position flexibility the better as a Pirates fan who is seen Collin Moran play left field he can’t be much worse
Nick Stevens
Baseball has become slow pitch softball. Defense means nothing. Home Runs are all that matter.
rmullig2
They should just put JD in left and use Chavis at DH or 2B with Pedroia at DH.
jdgoat
I’m beginning to think beisbolista isn’t a Red Sox fan
Guest617
trump and the sox was hilarious
spitball
The idea of Chavis to the outfield must be a temporary fix. As in, we need to find him a place because his energy has turned things around for the franchise, and we would all look like idiots sending him back to Pawtucket! RedSox next outfielder is Jarren Duran in Salem, currently playing a pretty good centerfield there. By next year Chavis will have a home in the infield. Chavis, Devers, and Dalbec in some fashion will cover 1st, 3rd, and DH.
KD17
I can’t believe I didn’t read that Chavis should play 3B instead of error-boy. Worst fielding 3B in Red Sox history and we continue to let him play there!! Give Chavis 3B and see if he can make less than an error every 5 games. Putting Chavis in left field makes two positions weaker if JBJ must sit.
Why not trade Devers and Rusney and get power hitting young outfielder that understands how to put the ball in play. Give Chavis 3B and let the utility guys cover 2B. We have more promising minor leaguers who could take 2B in a year or two so why start playing people out of position when they are better than the current player playing their position.
ONE MORE TIME…. DEVERS IS THE WORST DEFENSIVE 3B IN THE HISTORY OF THE RED SOX!! 47 errors in 211 games!! Bogaerts has made 61 errors in 738 games. Oh yeah, DEVERS has done this at the infield position that gets the least chances per game!!
Sucks is not a strong enough word to describe his defense and he IS NOT getting better!!
He still makes an error every 5 games. He has never been good defensively but when you have success hitting in HS and the Minors, people don’t care about the crap defense. In the MLB, we need to care about the crap defense.
Chavis needs to play 3B and then Devers needs to either find a position he can play or move to another team so we can fill our weaknesses with his trade value. Same with Rusney. Too expensive to bring up so deal him and get something we need for him so we aren’t tempted to promote him and blow our budget.