Somewhere deep in the recesses of space exist black holes, notable because they suck in all matter through a gravitational force so strong even light can’t escape. This reminds me of the Red Sox second base situation.
Ever since Manny Machado pulled an homage to Ty Cobb and decided the best way to reach second base was to cave in Dustin Pedroia’s knee, things have been difficult for Boston at the keystone. From 2018 through 2020 Boston has the third worst production from second base of any team, beating out only the Tigers and Rockies. The current off-season represents a chance to change this.
Last spring the Red Sox dealt future Hall of Famer Mookie Betts to the Dodgers and in return received my eternal scorn and also Jeter Downs. It is Downs who is more pertinent to this article however. Though he’s played mostly shortstop in the minors, nine out of 10 scouts agree on two things: 1) Downs is a second baseman in the majors, and 2) brushing regularly can prevent tooth decay. Downs has a promising bat with more than enough power for second base, and he should be able to handle the position defensively. On the whole it’s a promising package. Unless something unexpected happens, Downs is the Red Sox future starting second baseman. But, and this is important to note, he’s not there yet, even if, as a 22-year-old with experience both at Double-A and, last year, at the Red Sox’ alternate (read: minors) site, he’s not far away. But close isn’t ready, so Boston will need someone to tide them over, someone to hold down the position until Downs can step in either later this season, or more likely sometime in 2022.
In a recent interview, GM Chaim Bloom (who isn’t technically the GM but is something like CEO and Chief Manipulator of All Baseballings but who I will refer to colloquially as the GM) said the Red Sox were looking to compete in 2021. This means they’ll need to solve the second base conundrum. With that behind us, here are a few potential targets who could help the Red Sox, presented from least to most realistic because this is 2020 and everything is a letdown.
DJ LeMahieu
Look, this ain’t happening. I have learned to spell his name for nothing. LeMahieu is a gonna cost a bundle and a half and the Red Sox aren’t looking to spend the kind of money he’s asking for. Also, he’ll require a long-term commitment of at least four years, and there’s no way Bloom & Co. (Red Sox front office or 1890s department store?) are going to give a 32-year-old second baseman coming off a career year that kind of commitment. That said, I thought I should mention him right off the top because I want to show off my fantastic spelling skills and so I can be fully and rightfully acknowledged as a dumb-dumb when he signs with the Red Sox in two weeks.
Ha-Seong Kim
This is one of the more interesting players in free agency. I’m not going to pretend I know a lot about a guy who has spent his whole career in the Korean league, but from what I’ve heard and read about him, he represents a very interesting option. Like LeMahieu he will require a longer term contract, probably at least four years, which would block Downs. But in this case maybe that’s okay.
Kim is seven years LeMahieu’s junior, and he’ll cost probably half as much. Also, he represents a real shot at a long term positional fix, while with LeMahieu, the Red Sox (or anyone else) would be paying top dollar for his decline years. Kim has some pop in his bat and as a shortstop in Korea, scouts seem to think he can play up the middle at the major league level. I don’t expect the Red Sox to sign him, but this is an intriguing and unusual option.
Marcus Semien
Marcus Semien doesn’t play second base which would seem like a prerequisite to be mentioned on this list, though clearly not. The last time he played second was in 2014 with the White Sox. He’s also about to be 30 and he’s a shortstop in a market about to be flooded with lots of shortstops who are better than he is. Yes he probably wants to keep playing shortstop, but if Boston offered him the stability of a three year contract, it’s not out of the question.
Moving to second base would make him more valuable to the Red Sox too, valuable enough that he might be worth that kind of deal. It’s a bit of a long shot, but the base framework is there for both sides. Semien wouldn’t be peak Pedroia with the glove, but he can very likely handle the position and he’s a better-than-league average hitter for a second baseman, and depending on how much stock you put in his extremely impressive 2019 season (.285/.369/.522 with 33 homers). So there’s the potential for more with the bat if you’re buying 2019, and in fact, if you told me you were from the future and Semien had the best 2021 season of any hitter on this list, I might pretend to believe you before backing away and smiling so you don’t stab me.
Jurickson Profar
Hey, didn’t you used to be Jurickson Profar? I remember talking to a scout back in 2013 and I was assured he was going to be a stud. Dude was The Man back then. Now, well… he can play second base at about a league average level, he’s somehow only 28 years old, and he can hit a little bit. Like, a real little bit, but that thing about beggars being choosers. Over the last three seasons, Profar has been a league-average hitter, which if you’re using him at second base, means his bat is above average. Also, he’s not going to be expensive and you probably don’t even have to give him more than a year, maybe with a team option for a second year tacked on the end for funsies. Profar isn’t going to be a star. That ship has sailed, hit a reef, and sunk. But he’s not going to kill you at the position, and that’s a huge step up from where the Red Sox have been.
Kolten Wong
This is probably the most likely name on this list to end up in Boston. MLB Trade Rumors even predicted Wong will end up in Boston on a two year contract. That would make perfect sense. Wong is a fine hitter, he gets on base and hits for average, though he’s got very little power. That’s okay on the whole though. He can play the position and not sink you, which would really be his job. Don’t sink the Red Sox. Nice work if you can get it. This isn’t the most inspired choice, but if big upgrades are coming elsewhere on the roster like, off the top of my head, the pitching staff, then this is an improvement over 2020, and 2019, and 2018, and a reasonable placeholder until Downs is ready.
Any of these guys and maybe a few more on the trade market (we can cover that another time) would be big upgrades over the black hole that has been second base for the Red Sox. Can decent baseball escape from second base at Fenway? We’ll find out, but there are options.