Pedey is Short, But Can He Stop?
Yesterday reports were flying all over the interwebs about Dustin Pedroia voicing his absolute willingness to move to the shortstop position and allow the Red Sox to work on finding a new 2B which has more options on the current market than the SS position. I hate to say it (or do I?), but I think they should do it.
In an article yesterday from ESPNBoston.com, Pedroia stated:
“They’ve asked me if I think I could play shortstop,” Pedroia says. “They’ve put it out there and I’ve told them I’m all for it. I can do it. I can’t wait for Tito [Terry Francona] to call me and ask, ‘Can you do it?’ I can do it. I really want to do it.”
See people?! He “really want(s) to do it”! Let’s let him! In Pedey’s defense, he was an All-American shortstop in college, playing for Arizona State.
But what options does this give to the Red Sox organization to have to go out and fine a 2nd baseman instead of a shortstop? These are 2 of the toughest spots to fill on a roster in the past decade.
Luckily for the Sox, there are a few quality 2nd basemen that are free agents this offseason (which they obviously know coming into this conversation with Pedroia). The top available 2nd basemen are Orlando Hudson and Brandon Phillips. Hudson is more of a defensive stud than offensive coming off of a season with the Dodgers where he was paid $3.36M, hit .283 with 9HR, 62 RBI, and he was NOT offered arbitration. Phillips, getting paid $5.19M last year in Cincinnati, hit .276 with 20 HR, 98 RBI, and a Gold Glove at 2B in 2008. Obviously, Phillips would be the preferential choice here but it also depends on how much money the Sox want to tie into it.
Could we see Hanley Ramirez in a Sox uni once again?
Should the Sox continue on with Pedroia at 2nd and searching for a SS, I really can only see three options playing out. Sign Marco Scutaro, trade for Hanley Ramirez, or entrust (against the will of anyone in Red Sox Nation who doesn’t share the family name) Jed Lowrie to the job and realize half-way through the year that you need to waste everything you own to make a trade anyway. Scutaro has received way too much hype as a free agent SS. Experiencing issues with plantar fasciitis late in the season last year as well as costing any team that picks him up a first-round draft pick, Scutaro’s ability to be a dim star amongst the dust cloud that is the Toronto Blue Jays’ lineup seems like quite a reach for any team.
A Hanley Ramirez trade has been talked about since mid-2009 and has been viewed from every angle possible. Many knowledgeable baseball fans know that it would take quite the bundle (if any at all) to take Han-Ram out of the already struggling market in Miami as they try to usher in a new stadium for a perennially fading team. I vividly remember watching Sportscenter one late September morning in 2008 and a game between the Florida Marlins and Atlanta Braves, two teams already out of contention, played a mid-afternoon game on a 100+ degree day and the view was mind boggling with under 700 fans having showed up for the game… played in Dolphin Stadium… This team can’t afford to trade away their biggest draw player unless they get other big names back. Expect if talks do heat up here that one of the main sticking points will be Jacoby Ellsbury which would be a good deal for the Sox since they are trading away only a minimal amount of base running ability and talks have been ongoing for a couple years now that HanRam should be in center field full time rather than at short. Depending on how this offseason goes, this will soon become known as “The Han-Ram Effect” or “The Adrian Gonzo Corallary”.
In the end, the Sox really should take an honest look at moving Pedey to short and pick up Brandon Phillips for the 2B position on a deal that would keep him in town for 4-5 years and solidify the middle infield for the first time in nearly a decade.
Halladay
When it comes to pitching, the Sox have made it painfully clear that they want to be the ones to make the trade for Roy Halladay. With Halladay making it known yesterday that if he is to be dealt, he wants it done before the start of spring training and the obvious front runners would be Boston, New York, and Los Angeles, all AL contenders. The Sox need to make every effort to make the move and make sure that neither the Yanks or Angels get the deal done behind their backs. Bringing in Halladay, even at the cost of Clay Buchholz, would be the deal of the decade to solidify this starting pitching lineup, lining them up with 3 Aces which we know is nearly unheard of.
Recently, according to Gordon Edes on ESPNBoston.com, the Sox are also conversing about the possibility of signing Erik Bedard and/or Rich Harden and have little interest in John Lackey (thank god!). There has also been talk about Justin Duchscherer (not offered arbitration) and Randy Wolf (no arbitration). Rafael Soriano may be the answer to fill in in the back end of the bullpen (if you consider that a hole) now that the Braves have picked up Billy Wagner and given the Sox their 20th pick in the draft due to arbitration.
Left field is still as up in the air as it has been. The Sox offered Jason Bay arbitration yesterday which would give them two draft picks from any team that picks him up but the Sox contend that he is still their top priority in left field and claim that the time frame will not be judged by any movement of Matt Holliday. The only other real options for left field would be Johnny Damon, Gary Sheffield, and Hideki Matsui and of those three only Godzilla was offered arbitration.
So many options but also, so much time. But then again, when you are making deals in Major League Baseball, there is never really enough time. Expect Theo to be wheeling and dealing like a pool shark at a biker bar come next week at MLB’s winter meetings.
2 Responses to “Pedey is Short, But Can He Stop?”
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This does not change the fact that boy wonder was sleeping while the Blue Jays signed Alex Gonzalez. Smug Theo incorrectly thought he could have AG with and save a few bucks. And now he sits on the brink of another shortstop “potential” disaster. Lets look at the tape:
Pedroia: Risk all over this and who would ever take a gold glove position player and move him into a higher risk fielding position? Ya, I know the Yanks did it with ARod but it was a fielding positon downgrade going from SS to 3rd base and not the same as what they might do with the little guy.
Lowrie: Who knows but boy wonder & Goober can’t go into the season assuming he will be healthy and then, even if he is, can he do the job over 162?
Trade: Think Lugo & Rent-A-Wreck
Hey boys and girls. Get in line next week for those $165 Bleacher (wait, I meant Green Monster seats). Have fun and say hi to Goober.
SullDog
Like I said to Julia on her Rants, I can really see 2010 being deemed a rebuilding year for the sox. It would be very nice to get Hanley again, but I doubt that will happen. The only bright spot about moving Pedroia to short is that it’s easier to find a second basemen than it is to find a great shortstop.
.-= Josh G´s last blog ..Charlie And The Unemployment Factory, No Excuses =-.