The Boston Red Sox have plenty of holes to fill for 2015, but one of their most glaring points of weakness is at third base. <\/p>\n
The Red Sox headed into 2014 with a reasonable amalgamation of talent at the hot corner. Will Middlebrooks was just a year removed from a promising 2012 campaign. Garin Cecchini looked poised to break into the majors. And capable backups like Jonathan Herrera and Brock Holt figured to provide extra depth should something go awry. <\/p>\n
However, Red Sox third basemen have hit just .207\/.267\/.297 with eight homers this yeara startling lack of production from a group that includes Middlebrooks, Holt and Xander Bogaerts. <\/p>\n
Its obvious that the Red Sox need to address their lack of front-end starting pitching talent in the offseason, and that is indeed the team's biggest need. Yet Boston will also need to make a decision when it comes to third base, and while there are no shortage of options before them, there's no clear-cut answer, either. <\/p>\n
The Red Sox might choose to try and solve their third base vacancy internally. They might look to the free-agent market for help. Or, they could try and swing a trade. <\/p>\n
A deeper look at these various options shows that while the Sox have plenty of room to get creative, it's likely going to be difficult to fix third base without allocating substantial resources. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Will Middlebrooks <\/p>\n
Few Red Sox have had as disappointing a 2014 campaign as Middlebrooks. Looking to cement himself as Boston's third baseman of the present and future, Middlebrooks has instead cast doubt on his role as an everyday MLB player. <\/p>\n
In an injury-shortened year that's seen him reach just 179 PA in the majors, Middlebrooks is hitting .183\/.251\/.268 with a 29.6 strikeout percentage and just two home runs. The lack of power from Middlebrooks is especially concerning, as that was largely his calling card up until this season. <\/p>\n
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How Boston Red Sox Will Solve Murky Future at Third Base<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The Boston Red Sox have plenty of holes to fill for 2015, but one of their most glaring points of weakness is at third base. The Red Sox headed into 2014 with a reasonable amalgamation of talent at the hot corner. Will Middlebrooks was just a year removed from a promising 2012 campaign Continue reading