The Red Sox’s Top Options at SS

Visits: 4

I was going to provide a run down of the future at shortstop (SS) for the Boston Red Sox, but after my research was done, I found out that none of the top 6 players at this position were hitting over .249 as of Thursday, August 28th.

Although Yamaico Navarro did hit for a .319 BA in his 23 games at Single A Salem. The scouting report on his defensive ability (taken from Sox Prospects) had this to say, “In the field, he plays 2B, 3B, and SS more than adequately, with a sure glove, an above average arm, and decent fluidity. He has had some problems with executing double plays, but that seems to be improving.  Regardless, he’s always entertaining to watch, and turns a lot of big league gems with his glove. He has an Ozzie Smith-like electricity in the field.” Plus he was traded to the Reds to reaquire Alex Gonzalez.

Aside from Navarro, Casey Kelly has hit .240 since joining the Single A affiliate in Greenville after pitching the whole first half of his season. Neither the organization or Kelly himself has determined if he will become a pitcher or a SS. So while both sides decide upon how to best use the 2008 1st round pick, The scouting report on his defensive ability (taken from Sox Prospects) had this to say,”Defensively, Kelly has excellent range and shows fluid movements in the field. Great glove and a strong, accurate arm.  Has the potential to be an elite defensive player at the major league level.”

Image by Keith Allison via Flickr

Therefore, in my opinion, it is in the Red Sox best interest in the short term to fill this position with either a healthy Jed Lowrie (currently on the DL again), pick up the option on newly acquired Alex Gonzalez, or make a trade for a player better than both of them. A trade may be their best move if they are unsure about the ability of Lowrie to bounce back from this injury plagued season due to the weak field of free agents this off season.

Thanks to MLB Trade Rumors, we have the list below of free agent SS after this season. The number in parenthesis is the players age.

Shortstops
Orlando Cabrera (35)
Alex Cora (34)
Craig Counsell (39)
Bobby Crosby (30)
Adam Everett (33)
Chris Gomez (39)
Alex Gonzalez (32) – $6MM mutual option with a $500K buyout
Khalil Greene (30)
Jerry Hairston Jr. (34)
John McDonald (35)
Marco Scutaro (34)
Miguel Tejada (36)
Omar Vizquel (43)
Jack Wilson (32) – $8.4MM club option with a $600K buyout

The only other desirable option via free agency would seem to be Orlando Cabrera, currently with the Twins, but the Sox have already declined to resign him once before after the 2004 season. This is still a mystery to most as Cabrera did play well for them after he was traded on into the playoffs. Then again, they also declined to resign Alex Gonzalez after his previous year in Boston too, and here he is again.

What do you, the readers think they should do at SS for the 2010 season? Let your voice be heard in the comments section below!