The Red Sox have finalized a pair of up-the-middle pickups this week, formally adding Adam Duvall on a one-year free agent deal to play center field and acquiring infielder Adalberto Mondesi from the Royals yesterday. Chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom met with reporters after announcing the trade with Kansas City and suggested the team was still open to acquiring middle infield help.
“We’d still love to add if the opportunities are there,” Bloom said (via Chris Cotillo of MassLive). That’s not too surprising, as the Boston baseball operations leader had previously indicated the club was open to three-plus additions after losing Trevor Story for most of the season after he underwent an internal brace procedure on his throwing elbow.
Mondesi himself is far from a sure thing. The switch-hitting infielder has spent time on the injured list in four of the last five seasons, and he’s coming off an ACL tear that ended his 2022 campaign 15 games in. That injury — which required surgery — occurred roughly nine months ago. Bloom noted that Mondesi’s rehab “still has a ways to go” and suggested it’s possible he’s behind schedule heading into the season. The 27-year-old infielder might yet be ready for Opening Day but that doesn’t seem a certainty.
Even once Mondesi is healthy, it seems he might have a clearer path to reps at second base than at shortstop. Bloom indicated that Enrique Hernández remains the club’s top in-house shortstop (relayed by Ian Browne of MLB.com). That’d presumably leave Mondesi at the keystone on most days, which would push Christian Arroyo into a utility capacity.
Hernández only has 618 innings at shortstop over parts of nine big league campaigns. Public defensive metrics have mostly rated him as a solid or better gloveman in that look. He’s typically registered plus defensive grades at second base and in center field over more extended bodies of work, and Boston brass is clearly confident he’s athletic enough to shoulder a heavier shortstop workload.
If the Sox were to go outside the organization for help, they’d likely be looking at depth pickups. Elvis Andrus remains the top unsigned shortstop. Josh Harrison is probably the next-best free agent middle infielder, with José Iglesias, Jonathan Villar and Rougned Odor also in the mix. Players like Tony Kemp, Nick Madrigal or Nicky Lopez might still be attainable on the trade front, though it’s possible the Boston front office doesn’t find anyone in that group enough of an upgrade over the in-house possibilities to open discussions.
Tony Kemp would be a great fit. Should see what the A’s want for him at least.
Said no one
Instead, why not look within the system and give prospect David Hamilton a look?
thickiedon: Good thought. It looks like Hamilton is weak defensively in the infield. He might be able to get by at 2B, but he may be better suited for CF in my opinion.
Rafaela is more advanced then Hamilton had the much better season in AA and is way better defensively. Would rather have him with the big club then Hamilton. Hamilton is really just a speed guy with below average infield defense. I think his 40 man spot could of been used on someone else don’t really see the upside.
Bruin: I think Hamilton could be a great center fielder if he doesn’t figure it out in the infield.
Maybe but Rafaela is already a great center fielder.
Another problem with Hamilton he can’t hit.
Bruin: Hamilton finished the AA season very hot at the plate. He slugged 1.151 in Sept and was named Eastern League player of the month. His 81 runs scored and 70 stolen bases led the Eastern League last season. 70 stolen bases may have led the whole minor leagues. Need to check on that. So, if the Red Sox have two great center fielders, one can always be traded to fill a need.
Rafaela is already an elite defensive center fielder. Hamilton has never played center no way I’m moving Rafaela off center to play Hamilton. I watched a lot of minor games last year but didn’t notice Hamilton finished so well offensively maybe that’s why they kept him on the 40 man. He will get his shot this year at AAA just not in center not while Rafaela is there. There is no questioning Hamilton base stealing though he is an elite base runner and stealer.
Bruin: Hamilton made two starts in CF last year. So, they are considering moving him to CF. Let’s see what happens. If they are both really good, they can most likely find positions for them…or trade one. That’s how I look at it.
AITSTYW and Bruin1012 – The only reason Hamilton is on the Red Sox is his relationship with Cora when he was at UT and Cora was with Houston. They know each other from Cora’s Houston days.
Hamilton can’t be worse in the OF than the IF. Put Hamilton next Devers and you might as well flash a huge sign hit to the left side of the infield! Mondesi is above league average at SS. He hits better than Kiki, fields better than Kiki, has a better arm than kiki and greater range than kiki. Hamilton isn’t close to as good as Kiki who isn’t good so that’s how bad Hamilton is on defense.
If Rafaela can turn into an every day CF who can field, I think he needs to stay in CF. Mayer is on the way so converting guys doesn’t make sense to me. It would be great if Rafaela can prove he is an every day CF in Fenway. That’s ONE CHECK MARK that would help reduce the unknown players of the future.
PAB: Cora knowing Hamilton may have had something to do with acquiring him. I thought it had to do with the Red Sox hiring Mike Groopman as a new Assistant General Manager from the Brewers. He would have been familiar with Hamilton and Binelas prior to trading Jackie Bradley, Jr. to the Brewers for them. Agree with the rest of your post.
Correction: The Red Sox acquired Hamilton and Binelas with Jackie Bradley, Jr. from the Brewers.
Cora knowing Hamilton may have had something to do with acquiring him.
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How well could Cora possibly have known Hamilton? Hamilton started UT in 2017. Cora took the RS job in Oct 2017. It’s possible that they met once or something, but pretty unlikely they knew each other well enough to establish a relationship.
Andrus is the safest bet at this point. The fit is almost too perfect so it must be coming down to his asking price why this hasn’t happened yet
Yay another 35+ has been not sure how he’s so perfect for the sox
I’m not sure why he’s still available, but I’ve posted it so many times that some have to be tired of reading it but Iglesias in my view covers all the boxes. Health, ability to play multiple positions well and will hit for average . He also started in Boston, plays well in Fenway and from accounts is a solid teammate.
I totally agree with you Dewey. He would be a great pickup for the Sox.
The team can and has done much worse at the bottom of the order. Moreover, while perhaps no longer gold glove quality, he’s certainly dependable at both second and third.
I agree Iglesias is better than Andrus
Dewey: Agreed. Iglesias would be a nice pick up. It may be a money thing at this point. Their payroll is currently at $218M-$223M depending where you look. I think it is closer to $218M. If they want to reset the luxury tax by staying below $233M, they only have maybe $15M left to spend. However, some of that may be used for guys who signed minor league deals such as Alfaro who will get $2M if he gets promoted. They could spend another $5M-$6M for guys on minor league deals if they all get promoted. Also, they probably want to leave some money ($5M maybe) for adding salary at the trade deadline. So, they may only have about $4M left to spend now if they want to reset the luxury tax. That may not be enough for Iglesias and Andrus at this point. They have time to see if they can get more money.
Dude is 35 years old. You’re talking like he played here yesterday when it was actually a long time ago.
How bout Matt McLain for Bello ?
I would rather Bello stay with the Red Sox and keep working with Pedro Martinez.
That’s a big pass from the Red Sox. McClain is alright but he just played AA he’s probably not ready and Boston already has a big time prospect at Shortstop in Mayer. Boston isn’t looking for a future shortstop they are looking for a stopgap. I would say Rafaela who played well in AA and will start in AAA this year could be ready mid year to help up the middle. The Red Sox aren’t trading the best homegrown pitcher they have developed in years.
Rafaela is ready defensively for the big leagues would rather have him start in AAA for offensive purposes but in a pinch he could play quality defense at any up the middle defensive position besides catcher. I would certainly consider him insurance for injuries.
ELVIS WANTS MULTIPLE YEARS.
SOX OFFERING ONLY ONE YEAR, (perhaps other teams as well.)
ELVIS REMAINS UNSIGNED.
Gary: Andrus is a Boras guy. So, probably true.
Da*n it. Bloom just said what I said after the mondesi trade was announced… that the team STILL needs a middle infielder who can start, and the trade didnt move the needle enough. I may need my head examined if my thinking is crossing into alignment with him. Or is he finally learning?
And, like I was telling JoeBrady earlier, the number of red sox players holding 40 man spots on the roster but looking more and more like they will be IL to start the season seems to be growing.
Opportunity for ST invitees to impress? Sure. But, you need to hope those invitees are of a quality good enough to be mlb-caliber and able to help you win.
If you look at the 40 man and cross off who you think won’t be ready for opening day for health and who aren’t ready for mlb promotion due to youth/skill… well, the team isn’t quite to a line where there aren’t enough current 40 man guys to field a mlb team, but, you’re getting close.
And soon you may be stuck taking a ST invitee on your 26 man to open the season out of desperation, not talent/performance. Will be worth watching.
Boy, we’re locked in the hyperbolic chamber today. Not really sure I see the roster with the same doomsday glasses as you but let’s take a gander.
Won’t be ready due to health I’m only seeing Story and Mondesi. Maybe Paxton as well I guess. Hardly the 39/40 men with detached limbs that you made it out to be.
Won’t be ready due to youth I’ve got Mata, Walter, Rafaela, Valdez, Abreu. But, that’s also kind of the purpose of the 40 man so I don’t really get the gripe with these guys being on there.
In essence, I guess what I’m saying is take a breath, my friend. It’s January. Why have a coronary now when you don’t even have the excuse of watching the Sox to blame it on?
U forgot Sale but the rest is right this team will still suck their throwing a over the hill AAA team out there with one good player who can cost them runs on the defensive side and doesn’t have anything behind him to scare teams from just walking him every time
Prediction: Mondesi plays 11 games and spends the rest of the year on the IL. Taylor posts a 4-2 record with a 2.06 ERA and 12 saves for K.C.
Probably but our bullpen is deep and we needed more warm bodies for up the middle
Milt – Prediction – on the 12th day of the season your prediction will be wrong!! The Taylor part is beyond comprehension. Taylor is not getting 12 saves.
All this caused by Blooms stupidity. How many more bad decisions does this imbecile have to make before ownership realizes Bloom is in over his head trying to lead a large market front office.
GA – Since I disagree with him as I have so many times, it must be you!! haha
Solano?
Kim is the perfect fit but Boston lacks the quality starters and pieces to get a deal done.
Would have to be a three team trade
Factually incorrect. Kim has only two years of control and is well below average in medium and high leverage situations (127 sOPS+ in low lvg and 60 sOPS+ in high leverage) because he can’t hit average-or-better pitchers. Realistically, he isn’t even worth one of Houck, Whitlock, or Bello, and public valuation sites like BTV agree
@FletcherFan69
According to baseball reference, Kim had more WAR than Bryce Harper in 2022. In fact, he doubled Harper’s WAR. To say he’s not a good player is just foolish.
Just pointing that out.
He doubled the WAR of a guy who played 90 of his 99 games as a DH and needed Tommy John? Harper’s WAR was already muted by playing 2/3 a season, and he basically didn’t play any defense to accrue defensive metrics into his WAR. By comparison Harper had a 138 wRC+ to Kim’s 105. I’m not suggesting Kim sucks and has no value, I just don’t see the value in comparing his WAR to Harper’s.
Think you’d have had a better argument showing his WAR was better than more than half the middle infielders out there, or comparing him to what the Red Sox are troting out there right now.
I never said Kim was better than Harper. But to say he’s not good when he had a 5 WAR year, which is better than most average guys, is foolish. Even if it’s partially defensive WAR, he’s better than FletcherFan made him out to be.
Maybe it was a farfetch’d comparison but I also didn’t know Harper was injured. That I had forgotten but the point still stands that he has quite a bit of WAR.
Some people are just clueless if this kid comes to Boston he has only Devers hitting behind him not a stacked line up like he had in SD he’s nothing more then a back up infielder that the Sox have plenty of
His defense alone is great and he can steal bags. Our offense isn’t phenomenal, but he’d be a better addition than Elvis Andrus.
Story can’t play ss he couldn’t really before his “injury” people need to understand that as does Bloom then need a strong ss that can stay for 3-4 yrs hoping that the Meyers kid pans out because that’s what the front office is hoping for because he’s the only real top prospect that Blooms selected or signed
Kim has only two years of control
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Are you sure about that? My understanding is that players must have 6 years of service time in order to become a FA.
Joe I think it depends on the age you sign that contract. I seem to remember that if Shohei would of waited one year he could of missed the 6 years of control but he wanted to play in MLB so bad. Since Kim signed as a 24 year old international free agent he wasn’t bound to the arb system it was straight free agent contract.
Ya cuz Kim is worth sooo much
Obviously you haven’t seen him play. His defense alone is a game changer. Again Boston lacks the pieces in a trade so really it’s a moot point.
They could get him in a 3 team trade involving salary dump.
Take more than a salary dump. He’s a starting ss on a good portion of MLB teams. Young, controllable, sensational defense. Manny, who is well versed at ss having played gold glove defense at the position himself, basically called him the best defensive ss on the team and would loathe to see him go. If a team wants Kim, they gotta pay. That said the Padres need pitching, so for the right price he’s a get.
My oh my this is going to be a stapled together patchwork position player medley of various flavors and sauces all mixed together isn’t it? It shall be a thing to behold once it takes to the field. A Frankenstein monster freak show that may haunt us in our dreams all summer.
Get another middle infielder so you can cut another bullpen piece?
I know some of these guys have been terrible but you need about 10 relievers to get through the season. 5 to pitch in the games you win and 5 to pitch in the games that you lose. And out of those, about 5 have to get shuttled back and forth due to inevitable injuries.
The Astros got away with less than that but they had 7 guys start all but 2 games last year.
The Phillies had a similar breakdown, 7 starters all but about 6 games.
The Red Sox on the other hand were a mess.
Meanwhile, the Yankees had 7 guys start all but 7 games, but they burned out their bullpen pitchers, like they do every year, trying to win 120 games. Idiots.
whyhayzee
Get another middle infielder so you can cut another bullpen piece?
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My Machiavellian side suggest that this is what the Barnes move is (maybe) all about. Put him on waivers, with a handshake deal that he accepts an assignment to AAA if no one claims him. On Opening Day, Story goes to the 60-man IL and Barnes gets recalled.
Bloom just needs Dollar Tree to restock it’s shelves and then he can go get his type of players.
I would love to trade for Kim or Chisholm if we could
Jazz and Verdugo strait up?.. Sox get their second baseman allowing mondesi Arroyo and eventually story to play short. Kike goes back to center. Marlins get their outfielder
lol
Ha, I don’t think Verdugo, Rafaela, and Houck would even be enough
Not a ice cubes chance in hell that would ever happen but I respect your enthusiasm
Chisholm is not going anywhere. Along with Sandy Alacantara, Jazz is seen as a foundational piece to the Marlins franchise. I don’t even know who the Marlins would accept in such a deal, hypothetically speaking. I don’t think the Red Sox have the ammunition to get such a trade accomplished unless they give up their three highest prospects, at least.
Amed Rosario would be a berfect fit for the RSox, Cleveland has multiple middle infielders, just not sure the Sox has anything Cleveland needs or wants.
Mayer can u get any player available. So sox got the asset to trade if they deem it worthy.
And just to keep it real – Mayer is in the exact same position Royce Lewis was in after his first full season of A ball. From there Lewis, and his value, have fell off a cliff. So what do u do ??
Royce Lewis
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Y’all have to stop using sample counts of 1 to try to make a point. In my last poker game, In my last poker game, I flopped a set of 6s and lost to inside straight on the river. That doesn’t mean I am no longer going to play trips.
Didi. Gregarious is available as an upgrade for Boston garbage heap
That’s the answer. Give him a shot til Rafaela is ready
I’m sure the Tigers could swing a trade for them to acquire Zack Short! The asking price could start at a couple of used baseballs.
And you ain’t selling him short!
This is last place team no matter who they sign right now. Call them the Dead Sawks, they’re toast.
Josh Smith for Matt Barnes and 10 million over 2 years – who says no (if anyone)?
A couple of weeks ago it was starting to look like our bullpen was sizing up to not only look ok, but possibly have a couple of our lesser arms on the staff pushed into reinforcement status where they belong. Despite the loss of Story, I have been advocating all off season for another front-line starter first and foremost. We didn’t go that route. We did address the bullpen to a degree, but if Whitlock is moving to the rotation, we are still one big arm short in the pen. Jansen, Martin, Rodriguez, Taylor, Barnes, Houck, Whitlock, Schrieber. This scenario pushed Brasier, Ort, and the other cast of fodder out of the pen, and maybe the team. The loss of Barnes and Taylor may not seem like a loss, but it makes us place mediocre depth into the pen (some may say, to replace mediocre players) and makes our depth behind it that much worse. Add Whitlock as a starter, removing him from the pen, and you can see how what looked reasonably as a solid pen now looks shorter, and without a second lefty.
Sale, Kluber, Bello, Pivetta, Paxton is not good, nor will it be the rotation for any real stretches of time, but the real need was always going to be either a front-line starter that was either a 2 or 3 caliber arm in addition to a Kluber, or another quality arm in the pen to allow Whitlock to join the rotation without severely weakening the pen. Sale, Kluber, Whitlock, Pivetta, Bello with Paxton in the pen may be what they go for.
We now have depth enough at short to place a human being to stand there all season that can field. If they hit at all, bonus. Forget about adding more depth in the middle infield. As it stands, we finally have the chance to have our super utility player playing super utility instead of being a starter. GO GET THE ARM. I would rather have at least one solid aspect on the team (the bullpen) rather than start the season with a rotation of either unproven, or broken toys, and a bullpen less solid than it was after the acquisitions of Jansen, Martin, and Rodriguez.
Just my 2 cents. It’s all fun and games at this point anyway. I am just theorizing how to make this team be out of the playoffs by 6 games rather than 10. It would be nice though to have one solid aspect to the team. I always felt the pen would be the easiest to address, perhaps the cheapest, and hopefully make up for what will be a long season of crossing our fingers with our rotation.
Just sign Elvis, already
When you really put the potential Red Sox starting lineup, rotation, and bullpen down on paper and compare it to the other teams in the AL East at least on paper, at best, this is a 4th place team and probably last place.
I’m not saying that there could be surprises but imo it’s going to take devastating injuries coupled with the Red Sox not having significant injuries to even sniff the playoffs this year.
Let’s just sign Iglesias to fill out the roster see how the young guys develop and start making a plan for 2024. I’m sure we are going to get to see a lot of AAA guys like Walter, Mata, Murphy, Rafaela in the bigs this year let’s see how they look.
I think it will still be a fun season watching Sale come back see what he has watching the development of Casas, and Bello and at some point I’m hoping Rafaela. This will also be a big year in the minors with all eyes on Yorke and Mayer and how the progress. They should both hit AA this year and that is usually the biggest jump for young top prospects. Really excited to see how Bleis looks in Salem.
It’s just over two weeks before pitchers and catchers report while I’m not holding out a lot of hope for post season this year there should be plenty of fun things to follow about this team this year.
There is certainly a short list of interesting “things” to follow with the Sox in the short term, At least through the first two months of the season with Sale – Yoshida san – Devos continued progress & ;Cora’s juggling of a cryptic selection of SP options.& a gaggle of misfit roster depth pieces. .
Otherwise the 2023 season is no more than the equal to watching someone assemble a jigsaw puzzle with missing puzzle pieces & pieces from other puzzles- Bloom has no coherent plan & is incapable of developing or executing said plan if one even existed.
Jonathan Schoop
Dejong for a box of balls?