Chris Young
Young was put on this team to do one thing and one thing only – mash left-handed pitching. It’s what he’s done his entire career and he did a solid job of filling that role last year in his first season in Boston.
Not this year though. Young has hit a shockingly low .187 with a .566 OPS against lefties this season. He hasn’t hit well at home or on the road and has been significantly worse overall in the second half of the season.
Young has been passable against right-handed pitching, although it’s not as if he’ll displace any of the starting outfielders in a playoff game. He’s produced -6 defensive runs saved in only 37 games in left field, so he’s clearly not an option as a defensive replacement. His defensive limitations make him a poor option as the team’s fourth outfielder, a role likely to be filled by newcomer Rajai Davis. At least the speedy Davis can be a pinch-runner off the bench to fill the Dave Roberts role.
CY should have been the right-handed power bat off the bench to pinch-hit against a tough lefty, but he can no longer be counted on in that role. Boston would be better off giving his roster spot to Sam Travis, who has hit a blistering .394 with a 1.033 OPS in limited time against lefties at the big league level. Travis can platoon at first base with Mitch Moreland or be used as a pinch-hitter when the opposing team calls on a lefty reliever. If the 24-year old prospect continues to thrive in that role then it negates the need for Young.