The Boston Red Sox will be one of the more intriguing MLB clubs to watch this offseason as new president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski plans to make some changes. Rumors indicate he could be hoping to move at least one big contract.
As expected, it's either going to be Pablo Sandoval or Hanley Ramirez. Sandoval is owed $77 million through 2019 and Ramirez will make $68 million through 2018 (not including a $22 million vesting option for the 2019 season).
"By sending Travis Shaw to winter ball to play third base, the Red Sox are hoping they have a power-hitting infielder they can plug into the lineup at first or third in case they are fortunate to be rid of Pablo Sandoval, Hanley Ramirez, or both this offseason," writes Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe.
"Dombrowski knows it would be easier to move Sandoval (with some financial aid) than it would Ramirez simply because Sandoval is a third baseman.
"One scenario would have Shaw, who hit 13 homers in 226 at-bats this season, at third and Ramirez at first."
Ramirez moving to first base still sounds skeptical. The Red Sox moved him to the outfield this season and he was perhaps the worst defender in the MLB, so it's hard to believe a transition to first would be seamless, or at least something the front office wouldn't be worried about.
However, Boston might be stuck with Ramirez. Sandoval at least has value because he can play solid defense at the hot corner whereas Ramirez can no longer play his primary position (shortstop) and it'd be a gamble for another team to acquire him assuming that he can play somewhere else on the field.
That's why Shaw is likely playing third base in winter ball. The Red Sox may not have many suitors (unless they were to eat an overwhelming amount of money) for Ramirez, which means it's more likely Sandoval is moved and Shaw takes over at third.
"The reality is - everybody's an intelligent person here - if you say you're set in the outfield, we have a DH, the rest of our infield is pretty well-set, what spot does that leave open? First base," Dombrowski told Scott Lauber of the Boston Herald last week. "We're committed to trying, to making the effort, and I believe he's committed to making the effort, Hanley, to play first base. That's our focus and our plans. We need to do everything we can to make that work."
Shaw played eight games at third base this past season and 55 at first, so it appears Dombrowski is prepping for all possible scenarios by having him take more reps at third in the offseason. The 25-year-old batted .274/.331/.491 with 31 runs scored, 13 home runs and 36 RBIs in 65 games and is under club control for the foreseeable future, making him much more desirable than the overpaid Sandoval and Ramirez.
Don't be surprised if Dombrowski finds a suitor for one of these two players because the Red Sox are not going to let Shaw's talent go to waste.
