It has been a while since the Red Sox have had to worry about who will play shortstop. Remember a guy named Xander Bogaerts? In case you missed it, he isn't here anymore.
The plan post-Bogaerts was always a bit up in the air, but it sure appeared as though Trevor Story was making a full-court press to reclaim the position. Well, that now seems implausible for 2023, even if the infielder returns from elbow surgery midway through the season.
So, what now?
When picking through the possibilities, we can't forget that the conversations regarding the Red Sox shortstop in 2023 are likely far different than the ones which lie ahead in 2024. That is because of Marcelo Mayer.
If Mayer - who didn't disappoint in his first full big league season, hitting .280 with an .887 OPS, 13 homers and 17 stolen bases in two Single-A stops - continues his current progression, there will be a 2024 big league debut.
If he follows the path of Bobby Witt Jr., it will be in April. Corey Seager? closer to August or September. But, at this rate, it isn't unfair to suggest Mayer will be part of that team's plans when looking at the position.
That still leaves the Red Sox with the stopgap Story was supposed to represent. Here are the candidates:
Kiké Hernandez: Hernandez has played more games at second base than shortstop (258-100), and like Story, the difference might be being somewhere you are really good (shortstop) compared to elite (second base). Remember, Alex Cora identified Hernandez as the best defensive second baseman in baseball during spring training of 2021 before moving him to the outfield. His presence at shortstop certainly seems plausible, with the caveat that you are potentially significantly devaluing defense in center field.
Christian Arroyo: Arroyo is a sneaky really good defender. He came up as a shortstop, and was put at the position 17 times in 2022. Perhaps this is finally going to be his big chance to become an almost-everyday player, whether it is at second or short. You could certainly do worse than the up-the-middle combination of Hernandez and Arroyo, with health serving as the biggest immediate concern.
Elvis Andrus: The 34-year-old free agent revitalized his value a bit with his late-season stint with the White Sox, hitting .273 with a .773 OPS. He is a strong defender and certainly not an easy out. And unlike Hernandez and Arroyo, Andrus is a no-doubt-about-it shortstop, offering flexibility for others to fill the other positional gaps.
Jose Iglesias: You know he can - and wants to- play in Boston. That was made perfectly clearly during his month with the Red Sox in 2021 when he started this current path of career revitalization. Andrus probably has more offensive upside, but this is a guy who can put the ball in play (which will be a valued commodity with no more shifts) and you don't have to worry about defensively. In some respects, it might come down to who is more willing to take the one-year deal, Iglesias or Andrus.
There are trade candidates, to be sure. (Although one, Miguel Rojas, just went to the Dodgers.) Ha-Seong Kim of the Padres would seem to be a good fit, but a team like the Marlins might be better positioned to pry him from San Diego. Joey Wendle? OK. I guess.
For 2023, there are no obvious answers. Next season? That's another story.
