Red Sox Rankings: Top 5 Potential Outfield Combos After ASG

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Jul 11, 2015; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Red Sox second baseman Brock Holt (26) fields a ground ball against the New York Yankees during the eighth inning at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Mark L. Baer-USA TODAY Sports

1) An All-Star Combo

Left Field: Alejandro De Aza

Center Field: Mookie Betts

Right Field: Brock Holt

Key Substitutions:

Bradley Jr. to cover all three positions for injuries or days off.

Reasoning:

If Holt is the best player who doesn’t have a starting role and he also is the best substitute for the other outfielder, shouldn’t he just start in right field? Or left?

Not center, although he could do it if needed. Holt is fast but Betts covers even more ground. If Betts got hurt, Holt could move to center field and Farrell can put Bradley into right. If De Aza got hurt or needed a day off, Holt has played left field well before, so why not do it again? Bradley, again, would be the choice in right field.

With this combination, Peguero’s power would be wasted on the bench when he could be playing full-time for Pawtucket or be trait bait for another club. Castillo’s big contract and somewhat-decent offense keep that from happening for him, so he could be another substitution. However, with Bradley currently outplaying him, don’t expect Castillo to be called up in this situation.

It’s hard to see Holt, a 2015 All-Star, not playing every game even with fan-favorite second baseman and former A.L. MVP Dustin Pedroia coming back from injury. He’s just too good with the bat and the glove to be out of the lineup. Holt’s skills may be more effective in the infield than the outfield, but it’s not like the Red Sox are going to put third baseman Pablo Sandoval or Napoli into right field. Someone’s got to do it. Why not put your best player there until something else changes?

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