Comments on: Assessing Boston’s shortstop options

By: M.A.G.

M.A.G. — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 15:10:10 +0000

First of all: Holliday or bust.

Uggla is a terrible defender in 2nd, and his bat don’t look to good in other positions. Phillips is the best option, because he is a GG defender, and has power, which are two things the Sox need. And I think the Reds want to trade him. So, it’s not unrealistic to trade him for a reasonable package. Probably the only problem with him is his health. He has had some imjury problems, but I don’t know how serious this is.

Imagine our lineup with Holliday+Phillips, and a full year of V-Mart. That’s a significant upgrade, IMO.

By: Shane

Shane — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 13:45:49 +0000

They only way I see the Sox moving Pedroia is if they get Phillips. But then is that works out, how temporary would that be? I don't know anything about Phillips' contract status.

By: bob

bob — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 12:55:57 +0000

Uggla would be nice but he's an awful fielder. The Sox would be downgrading defensively by moving Pedroia to SS since he's such a good 2B, they'll probably want to acquire a 2B who fields well, like Phillips or Hudson and then move Pedey back to second when Iglesias is ready

By: Gerry

Gerry — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 05:15:01 +0000

I'm loving this. Pedey came up as a SS, was All American at SS, won all kinds of national collegiate awards as SS, played SS in the minor leagues and move over for Hanley, and then played a month of games at Fenway att SS. Today, he talked about his and Ethier's training program this summer, including flexibility and arm workouts. Unless the Sox land Hanley (not), I think we will have a GG SS in Pedey. Could Phillips really be available?

How about Dan Uggla. I'm becoming ever less certain that Theo will pay extreme $$ for Bay or Holliday, and Jed Hoyer tonite talked about building the Padres around Gonzalez. Not sure we want MCab. So, instead of them or Hanley, Theo has a chance to acquire a dominant hitter at 2b. Uggla is available and I'm willing to bet he will out hit J.Bay in a Sox uni; could turn his 30 to 40HR, then slide into the DH role down the road. He would be far more reasonable than MCab, Holliday, Bay, & cost no prospects. Hermida in LF = improved D and 25HR, backed by Reddick & Rocco. Youk stays at 1b, healthy Mike/Lowrie at 3b for another 50 – 60HR. This team would have pop, better D than 2009, very high OBP, collect the prospects on J.Bay, save a fortune on MCab/Holliday, and keep core prospects & players (Buch, Kelly, Reddick, etc.). IMO, this idea is brilliant.

By: marcos

marcos — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 04:05:28 +0000

Yea he talked about Phillips, Polanco, Hudson as 2b option

By: Kurt

Kurt — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 01:53:12 +0000

I like the idea of Phillips' swing in Fenway, even if he does strike out a ton. How much would it require to acquire him though?

By: bob

bob — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 01:03:18 +0000

Yeah but he does have the experience there and he is arguably the best fielding 2b in the league. The big issue isn't him getting to grounders, he has range to spare, its if he has the arm to play short. He's got a cannon for a 2B might be average for a SS. I personally think he can do it and then we can look at Phillips/Hudson as short-term 2B options

By: Sam

Sam — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 23:21:53 +0000

Brilliant. We have the best 2B in the league. Let's put him somewhere else!

I suppose it could make the Sox look like geniuses. Or it could make us look stupid. Dustin's offense at SS would be a plus, but the defense is the question. I seem to recall a Bill James rule of thumb that position shifts toward the more difficult end of the defensive scale rarely work well.

By: Sam

Sam — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 23:17:24 +0000

A three-year deal for any of the FA options looks risky … because none of them is that good. Barring a miracle, at this point I'd rather have the guy we can sign to a short-term deal (and wait for something better to come up or down the line).

By: M.A.G.

M.A.G. — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 23:16:51 +0000

Wow! This is big news!

I didn't know moving Pedroia was even a posibility. And, apparently Dusty wants to do it, so, this changes the whole picture.