Little has gone as planned in 2014 for the Red Sox, and the club’s furious dealing prior to last Thursday’s trade deadline was direct evidence of that fact.
GM Ben Cherington shipped off one veteran after another in hopes of re-tooling the roster for the 2015 campaign, adding more outfielders and upper minors arms to the club’s burgeoning ranks. Yoenis Cespedes and Allen Craig look to be starters when healthy next season along with a mix of Jackie Bradley Jr. and Mookie Betts in center.
But that picture doesn’t even include Shane Victorino, who will hope to be healthy next spring after an injury-riddled 2014. Nor is there room for this season’s breakout star in Brock Holt, who will likely find more time in the infield moving forward.
And we haven’t even talked about one of 2013’s most valuable performers in Daniel Nava. Nava’s up-and-down year this campaign is representative of the type of unexpected inconsistency that has sent the Red Sox to the AL East’s basement once again.
Photo by Kelly O’Connor of sittingstill.smugmug.com.
The 31-year-old was a shell of his former self to begin the season, batting just .149/.240/.269 through the first three weeks of April. More worryingly, Nava showed no signs of the elite ability to control the strike zone that had made him a fixture in Boston’s lineup (especially against righties) a year ago.
A six-week stint in Pawtucket helped Nava right the ship at the plate, however, and since his return to the majors in early June, Nava has reminded Red Sox fans why he was such a pleasure to watch in 2013.
Since June 4, when Nava was recalled from Triple-A, the switch-hitting outfielder has batted .323/.401/.368 with 15 walks and 29 strikeouts in 152 plate appearances. He has no home runs in that stretch, but Nava’s value has always been in his ability to drive up the pitch count of opposing pitchers and get on base.
Even more encouraging, Nava has begun to punish right-handed pitching again, with his .284/.374/.361 line against righties weighed down by his slow start to the season.
So where does Nava fit into the club’s outfield plans for 2015 and beyond?
Considering Boston’s plethora of outfield options, a trade for more established starting pitching this offseason is likely. Does this mean Nava’s days in a Red Sox uniform are numbered?
Although he is 31 years old, Nava will be heading into his first year of arbitration in 2015, meaning his salary will remain cheap through 2018 when he is first eligible to become a free agent. This certainly makes him a slightly more attractive chip in trade talks, but it also means Nava is a valuable, low-cost option for the Red Sox to hang onto.
If players like Craig, Victorino, or even Bradley are more attractive pieces in trade talks this offseason, would it make for sense for Boston to keep Nava and continue playing him in a role he has proven he can be successful in? Is Nava, in this sense, perhaps more valuable to the Red Sox than just about anyone else?
Nothing will be known until hot stove season picks up this winter, but it’s clear the Red Sox have plenty of depth to deal from in the outfield and on the pitching side in the upper levels of the minors. Trading for Eduardo Rodriguez and Edwin Escobar only further added to Boston’s pitching depth at Triple- and Double-A. Regardless of all this talent, there is no way all these young arms end up pitching in Boston’s starting rotation in the years to come.
All of which is a good reminder that the Red Sox’s moves at the deadline can’t be judged in a vacuum. They are the beginning of a long process that will see the club overhaul its roster in hopes of contending once again. This offseason will provide a clearer picture of just how successful Cherington was at the deadline, and the moves could keep coming after the 2015 season kicks off.
With all the outfielders Boston has added, Nava might appear to be the odd man out, especially as a youngster like Betts challenges for more playing time. But Nava’s value lies in his low salary, and though he could be shipped elsewhere, he could also continue to fill the bench/platoon role that has made him a fan favorite at Fenway. It is useful to get steady production from anywhere on the cheap, and Nava can certainly provide that.
Whether he ends up fitting into Cherington’s plans remain to be seen, but don’t be surprised if Nava sticks around even though the Red Sox have added more talent and depth to their outfield.