Michael Chavis has done his part. Now it's the Red Sox' turn to do theirs.
Keeping Chavis on the 26-man roster is the right thing to do.
Prior to the 25-year-old's reintroduction into the major leagues, Chavis represented a kind of square-peg-in-a-round-hole dynamic for the big league roster.
They had a right-handed-hitting first baseman (Bobby Dalbec). They had viable players at second base (Christian Arroyo, Enrique Hernandez). They had a utilityman who could play top-notch defense at multiple positions (Marwin Gonzalez). And they had enough outfielders who swung from the right side.
But sometimes you have to overlook the perfect fit and prioritize the right one. That's what we have with Chavis and this current group of Red Sox.
Sure, this could be perceived as a reactionary tone considering Chavis is coming off a two-hit night during the Red Sox' 8-1 win over the A's, with images of the infielder flying around the bases still fresh in our minds. But this is more than that.
Chavis was one of, if not the best Red Sox' players in spring training. He represented a different player than what was witnessed in 2020, noticeably becoming more athletic, allowing for better across-the-board defense. It just so happens to be the same portrait painted more than a month later in these games that actually count.
He weathered the storm of disappointment and has emerged as someone who seemingly deserves another chance.
"I feel like while I was down there, it was difficult to get work in," said Chavis of the alternate site. "I wasn’t able to get my routine going just because we weren’t playing legitimate games, we didn’t have umpires, and the one thing I was told to do down there was focus on zone recognition and it’s really complicated and tough to do when you don’t have an umpire. So while I was down there, I did my best to stay ready, and that was kind of the approach that I took. I wasn’t so worried about finding that difference or finding anything like that. Because I felt amazing in spring, I felt like I performed very well, I felt like I took care of business, and I was proud of myself. I was proud of the shape that I came in, I was proud of how I performed, I was proud of how I took care of my business in the clubhouse and the weight room, on the field, off the field, and that’s about it, honestly.”
So, what is the fit?
There is a very real possibility the Red Sox send Chavis back down to Worcester, prioritizing Danny Santana's versatility and ability to play the outfield when Franchy Cordero decision day arrives. (And it sure seems like it is coming.) Chavis is not a left-handed hitter and hasn't been playing outfield. That works against him.
OK. But the question has to be asked: Which player would be more viable for this team right now, Chavis or Phillips Valdez? I think we know the answer.
The Red Sox have prioritized having the extra pitcher for fear of being caught short, which is understandable. But it sure feels as though things have been uncomfortable position-player-wise just as much as anything involving the pitching.
Valdez has been fine. But he has also pitched just three times since April 24, with none of the appearances serving any kind of importance.
It's time to find out what the Red Sox truly have it in Chavis. Maybe it's still the player who chases way too many high fastballs falls into yet another major-league-pitching-induced rut. But maybe, just maybe, the player we witnessed Thursday night is the reality.
That player -- that Michael Chavis -- is worth keeping around.
“My chances of staying with the team? Um, yes, sir, I absolutely want to stay around the team as long as absolutely possible," he said. "I’ve been taking the same approach that I took in spring training, I’m just trying to earn a spot every chance I get to play, I’m trying to make the most of it. just trying to make an impact, honestly. It’s been amazing being up here and being back with the guys, I love being up here and I love wearing Red Sox on my chest and it’s sure as hell easier to play as hard as I do when I have a Red Sox jersey on, I can tell you that.”