Expect Danny Santana in Boston Soon, As Red Sox Shakeup Roster

 

The Red Sox entered the day with 217 runs scored, tied with the White Sox for the major league lead. That’s a byproduct of Boston’s major league-best .446 slugging percentage and .772 OPS. The Red Sox .264 batting average is also third in the majors.

However, all that offensive output is driven by just four players: 

J.D. Martinez - .340/.417/.601/1.018

Xander Bogaerts - .342/.401/.605/1.006

Rafael Devers - .278/.354/.583/.937

Alex Verdugo - .284/.345/.446/.791

Those four players are masking the deficiencies in the rest of the lineup, not just those in the bottom third of the order.

Marwin Gonzalez - .218/.310/.315/.624

Hunter Renfroe - .225/.258/.392/.650

Bobby Dalbec - .211/.262/.395/.657

Enrique Hernandez - .237/.296/.421/.717

Franchy Cordero - .167/.222/.226/.448

Gonzalez offers the team tremendous defensive versatility, making up for his offensive shortcomings. Similarly, Renfroe’s cannon-like arm and deft ability to patrol right field also make him an asset. 

The Sox still believe in Bobby Dalbec, who is coming off a 2020 showcase in which he delivered 8 homers and 16 RBI in just 80 at bats. In that brief span the first baseman compiled a .359 OBP and a .600 slugging; that's why there's still so much hope. Though Gonzalez could replace Dalbec at first, that would eliminate Gonzo's greatest asset: the ability to play multiple positions each week.

Hernandez could and should lose his leadoff spot. But, like Gonzalez, his defensive versatility assures him a spot in the lineup each day.

Then there’s Cordero, who simply isn’t justifying a roster spot at this point. Though he is speedy for a big guy, Cordero is not noted for his defense. With a roster shakeup in the offing, Cordero will almost certainly be the odd man out.

Who would replace him? Danny Santana, whom the Red Sox signed to a minor-league deal in March. 

Like Gonzalez and Hernandez, Santana can play virtually any defensive position, other than catcher. Then there’s his offensive versatility; Santana is also a switch-hitter. The super-utility player suffered a serious foot infection during spring training, which delayed his season. However, he has been raking during his minor-league rehab assignment and could be called up any day now.

The rub is that Santana is not on the 40-man roster, so a spot would have to be created. In other words, someone else needs to go. Though the Sox can demote Cordero since he has minor league options, they will not remove him from the 40-man roster.

Michael Chavis could also be sent back to Triple-A, but he will not be removed from the 40-man either.

Most likely, Brandon Brennan, whom the Red Sox claimed off waivers from Seattle on May 3, will be designated for assignment, creating space for Santana.

Boston has been operating with a 14-man pitching staff this season, which they’ve needed. That’s because not one Red Sox starter is averaging as many as six innings per outing this year, which has put a lot of pressure on the bullpen. That extra man is a nice luxury for Alex Cora. 

However, something has to give and the woeful output by half the Red Sox lineup may take precedence over pitching depth, at least at this point in the season. 

Xander Bogaerts vs Nomar Garciaparra: Who Is/Was Better?

 

This week, Xander Bogaerts became the 30th player in Red Sox history to play 1,000 games with the club. And he’s just the 10th Sox player to do it before turning 29 years old. He would have reached the milestone last year, if not for the pandemic-shortened season.  

I’m a big Bogaerts’ fan; I think we all are. Bogey is on the short list of greatest shortstops in Red Sox history, a group that also includes Hall of Famer Joe Cronin, Johnny Pesky, Rico Petrocelli and, of course, Nomar Garciaparra.  

Cronin retired as a player in 1945, and then went on to a 15-year managerial career. Pesky retied in 1952. Petrocelli exited the game in 1976. Most current fans never saw any of them play. Nomar played for the Red Sox as recently as 2004. 

There’s a recency bias that favors both Bogaerts and Garciaparra, but the numbers do too. 

Since the two players appeared in nearly the same number of games and had essentially the same number of at-bats with the Red Sox, this is a great time to assess and compare the two. Who is/was better?

Nomar (age 30) - 966 games, 3968 AB, 709 R, 1281 H, 279 2B, 50 3B, 178 HR, 690 RBI, 279 BB, 406 K, 84 SB, .323/.370/.553/.923

Xander (age 28) - 1000 games, 3866 AB, 597 R, 1125 H, 246 2B, 14 3B, 124 HR, 549 RBI, 350 BB, 776 K, 63 SB, .291/.352/.458/.810 

As you can see, Nomar appeared in fewer games and had fewer at-bats than Xander, yet has a significant edge in every single category, except walks. Yet, he still had a better on-base percentage. 

When it comes to offense, Nomar was clearly the superior player; he was a generational talent who would have been elected to the Hall of Fame had his body not broken down at such an early age. Garciaparra was plagued by a genetic condition (exertional compartment syndrome) that affected his connective tissues. HIs career was over by age 35, and he never played in more than 122 games over his final six seasons. In fact, he appeared in just 55 and 65 games, respectively, over his last two seasons. 

Garciaparra was Rookie of the Year, a six-time All Star, won two batting titles and a Silver Slugger. He had five top-ten MVP finishes, including runner up in ’98. 

Bogaerts is a two-time All Star, has won three Silver Sluggers, and is a two time World Series champion. He's had one top-five MVP finish. 

Neither player was/is particularly noted for their defense. For example, neither ever won a Gold Glove Award. 

Over 11 seasons, Garciaparra posted a .968 fielding percentage at shortstop. He had 1606 putouts in 4710 chances and made 149 errors.

Over nine seasons, Bogaerts has accumulated a .977 fielding percentage. He has 1202 putouts in 3573 chances and has made 82 errors. 

Slight advantage, Bogaerts.

Bogaerts is just 28 and, barring injury, has roughly another decade to build his case for Hall of Fame consideration. He is certainly on that trajectory at present. 

But when it comes to who was better after roughly the same number of games and at-bats, the answer, undoubtedly, is Garciaparra. 

Though he was often overshadowed by his contemporaries, Alex Rodriguez (who was PED-enhanced) and Derek Jeter (who won five World Series playing for the Yankees, arguably the most famous and illustrious sports franchise in the world), Garciaparra was better than Jeter and was nearly the equal of the freakish Rodriguez.  

Garciaparra’s career, despite its greatness, will always be a matter of what might have been. He averaged just 84 games a season over his final six years.

Nine years into his career, Bogaerts is still in his prime and he is flourishing. He continues to write his story each day, and what a story it is. 

Enjoy every moment of it, Red Sox fans. As Nomar knows all too well, you never know when, or how quickly, it will come to an end.