Yesterday, the Cincinnati Reds allowed Danny Richar, a second baseman, to become a free agent by outrighting him.
I’m here to say I want him as a member of the Red Sox. He became a Red last year in the Ken Griffey, Jr. trade (and Nick Masset). He hit .290/.330/.438 in Triple-A this year before undergoing labrum surgery in July.
Richar is 26 years old. He bats left-handed and saw significant time in the bigs with Chicago as a 24-year old, garning 187 at-bats of a .696 OPS. He’s seen spotty time since, never impressing. However, along with second base, he’s adequate at third. Short in a pinch.
Richar may not have hit at the big league level, but he’s hit well enough in Triple-A over the last three years (.870, .746, .767 OPS respectively) that I say he’s a great option for Triple-A, where he can serve as depth for backup infielder. You remember last year, when Lugo went down… and Lowrie went down? Nick Green was there. I’m advocating Richar as 2010’s Nick Green, because he’s younger, cost-controllable for years if we so choose with a bit more pop — and naturally, with a bit higher ceiling.
Sometimes it’s the little deals that keep the Sox in the thick of it.