In a move that takes some time to absorb, the Red Sox came to terms with Nick Punto on a two year deal worth $3.5M.
I will be the first to admit that I was a bit irritated by the news that Ben & Co. felt the need to sign the grittiest and scrappiest player that Ron Gardenhire had ever managed (and he’s managed a lot of gritty and scrappy players) to a two year deal. After thinking about it for a few minutes though, it seems like a pretty smart move. Defensively, he certainly meets the eye test, and defensive metrics (UZR, DRS, and FRAA) seem to like him as well. He’s above average with the glove at 2B and 3B, and plays acceptably at SS. Ideally, he’s the classic backup infielder/defensive replacement that Bobby V can call on to spell Kevin Youkilis in a close game or fill in for an injured Marco Scutaro.
At the plate, he’s not going to offer much in the way of power or hitting for average. That said, he has a knack for drawing walks, and exhibits decent bat control. Ultimately, he should see around 200 PAs, which is probably best for everyone involved. Still, if injuries occur force him into the everyday lineup, the offense should be strong enough to cover his mediocre production at the plate.
All things considered, it seems like a pretty decent deal. It does call into question what Mike Aviles‘s role will be going forward. One idea that I’ve heard floated is that he’ll get some additional playing time in the outfield; thus making him a super utility guy. While that adds a great deal of flexibility, he needs a lot of work defensively before that can be considered a legitimate option.
Needless to say, the last few days have been very interesting. The Red Sox are making some clever under-the-radar transactions with Kelly Shoppach, Nick Punto, and Mark Melancon being acquired, with Yu Darvish not even getting a bid. Looks like the front office will try to stay as close to the luxury tax threshold as possible.