Five middle infield options for Red Sox with Trevor Story out originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
A middle infield upgrade is no longer a want for the Boston Red Sox, it’s a desperate need.
Trevor Story was expected to move over from second base to shortstop to replace Xander Bogaerts, who left for the San Diego Padres in free agency. But on Tuesday, it was revealed that Story will miss time after undergoing elbow surgery. Chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom said the team “can’t bank on” Story returning at some point in 2023.
Tomase: Story injury the latest blow in Red Sox offseason gone wrong
Utility man Kiké Hernandez, currently the team’s starting center fielder, is an option to take over at shortstop. Of course, that would create a new hole in the outfield. To avoid that scenario, Bloom said the team “expects to add” through trade or free agency to replace Story.
Here are a few of the top options.
Jose Iglesias, Free agent
With all of the star free-agent shortstops off the board, Iglesias is the top player left at the position. The 33-year-old began his big-league career with Boston and returned for a brief second stint with the club in 2021. He spent 2022 with the Colorado Rockies, slashing .292/.328/.380 in 118 games.
Iglesias would be an obvious downgrade in the lineup, but he can still hit for average. And while he isn’t the superb defender he once was, he would still stabilize a major position of need. At this point, a one-year deal for Iglesias couldn’t hurt.
Elvis Andrus, Free agent
Andrus’ best days are behind him, but his performance in 2022 suggests there’s still plenty left in the tank. The 34-year-old belted 17 homers in 149 games between the Oakland A’s and Chicago White Sox. He also remains a good defender with solid speed as he swiped 18 bases in 22 attempts. He and Iglesias are the only free-agent shortstops capable of filling the void in 2023.
We shift our attention to the trade market, where the Red Sox reportedly have inquired about Miami Marlins infielder Joey Wendle. It’s a player Bloom is familiar with as they shared time together on the Tampa Bay Rays.
Wendle, 32, is a versatile defender who can fill in for Story at shortstop, then move over to second base when/if he returns. Last season was a down year at the plate for Wendle, but he showed during his time in Tampa — including an All-Star season in 2021 — that he can be an above-average hitter.
Wendle’s teammate Miguel Rojas was on this list prior to being traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday. The Red Sox reportedly showed interest in Rojas earlier in the offseason.
Ha-Seong Kim, San Diego Padres
The Padres, according to reports, are open to trading Kim following the addition of Bogaerts. The 27-year-old South Korea native slashed .251/.325/.383 last season with 11 homers, 59 RBI, 12 steals and 4.9 WAR in 150 games played. He was a Gold Glove finalist who took a massive step forward in virtually every category in 2022. San Diego needs pitching help, so it could make sense to sending over someone like Tanner Houck to acquire Kim and solve the shortstop dilemma.
Probably the most unrealistic option on the list, but definitely the most intriguing. Adames is a great defensive shortstop who also would soften the loss of Story in the lineup. The 27-year-old is coming off a 2022 season with the Milwaukee Brewers in which he tallied a career-high 31 homers and 98 RBI. Over the course of his five-year career, he has amassed a .771 OPS.
Adames would be the priciest player on the list, but the Red Sox have reached the point where paying up might be necessary to stay relevant in 2023.