Red Sox position players on the fringe of making 2018 Opening Day roster

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ST. PETERSBURG, FL – JULY 6: Deven Marrero and Tzu-Wei Lin (Photo by Brian Blanco/Getty Images) /

It’s November, so any conversation surrounding the Boston Red Sox is based on the principle of “sign this guy,” or “trade for that guy.”

And that makes sense. It’s the offseason, the part of the calendar with the highest volume of player movement until July 31. The only time of year where Free Agent signing is available to teams en masse. I do not blame anybody for speculating about players the Sox could bring in that already have made an impact in the bigs.

It is, however, easy to forget that the Red Sox could already have players that fill some of their needs signed to contracts. Some of these players have been toiling around in Minor League Baseball for the last few seasons. Some have made their Major League debuts and had extended stays in Boston. The only thing these players have in common that keep them forgotten is the fact that they’re not Giancarlo Stanton.

So, I’ve compiled a list of the “fringe” players that I believe are either the closest to making a real impact on the 25-man roster, or still have questions floating around them. Fringe player implies that the player is either on the 40-man roster already, or in Pawtucket showing signs they’re ready to come up.

And no, for this exercise, Rusney Castillo doesn’t count.

Sources: MLB.com, Fangraphs, Baseball-Reference

BALTIMORE, MD – SEPTEMBER 20: Deven Marrero (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /

DEVEN MARRERO; UTL INFIELDER

2017 with Boston: 71 G, 4 HR, 27 RBI, .211 BA/.259 OBP/.333 SLG (.593 OPS)

2017 with Pawtucket: 50 G, 3 HR, 14 RBI, .240 BA/.266 OBP/.361 SLG (.626 OPS)

Deven Marrero is the first to come to mind because he had longest stay with the Red Sox in 2017.

His bat was both a surprise and a headache, depending on the day. His power numbers saw a huge uptick last season. He saw his slugging percentage and home run total rise to Major League career-high, reaching heights he hasn’t seen at any level since 2015 at AAA. He was also able to hit nine doubles, and swipe five bags.

The headache came in the categories that should be Marrero’s bread and butter: hitting for average and getting on base. Marrero’s overall batting average barely made it over the Mendoza line at .211. His Batting Average on Balls in Play (BABIP) sat at a subpar .296. His strikeout to walk ratio was 61/12. It was a weird year from the 27-year old. Everything you expected him to do, he didn’t. But, Marrero’s bat has always been his secondary talent, taking a backseat to his ability in the field.

In 470.2 innings in the field (2.2 innings at first base, oddly enough,) Marrero shined. Fangraphs has Marrero at a 5.1 Ultimate Zone Rating (UZR.) In 151 defensive chances at every infield position, he only committed three errors, all at third base. His overall fielding percentage sat at .980%. Marrero’s defense could be his saving grace in getting him playing time in 2018.

As I’m sure you all know, Dustin Pedroia underwent knee surgery in October and is projected to miss at least seven months. That leaves the Red Sox without their starting second baseman until May at the earliest. Marrero is the best candidate to fill that hole in a platoon. He finished 2017 on the postseason roster, even starting Game 2 of the ALDS. He’s running out of options. His glove plays at a major league level, even if his bat needs some work.

VERDICT: Starts 2018 in MLB, platoon at 2B.

KANSAS CITY, MO -JUNE 20: Sam Travis (Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images) /

SAM TRAVIS; 1B

2017 with Boston: 33 G, 0 HR, 1 RBI, .263 BA/.325 OBP/.342 SLG (.667 OPS)

2017 with Pawtucket: 82 G, 6 HR, 24 RBI, .271 BA/.351 OBP/.375 SLG (.726 OPS)

Sam Travis made his major league debut in 2017, which is good. But his performance with Boston left a lot to be desired. Which is bad, obviously.

As a prospect out of Indiana University, scouts labeled Travis as a strong kid who could hit with a ton of power. But, when Travis was called up in May, his ability to hit for power did not make itself known. In his 33-game stint with the Red Sox, the righty did not leave the yard once, driving in only one run and collecting six doubles. His slugging percentage reflects that, sitting at .342. All signs point to the fact that the 24-year old was still a year away from hanging with the big club.

Things get interesting for Travis this offseason. The Red Sox have been linked to Eric Hosmer to fill out their need at first base. Hanley Ramirez is still hanging around and signed through either 2019 or 2020, depending on whether or not his option vests. Travis does throw right-handed, so he could play elsewhere. But, as a first baseman, his options elsewhere on the diamond are limited to either third base, or a corner outfield spot. And in case you forgot, those positions are taken up by three young stars.

Things do not look good for Sam Travis.

VERDICT: Starts 2018 in Pawtucket.

NEW YORK, NY – AUGUST 30: Blake Swihart (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /

BLAKE SWIHART; C/LF

2017 with Boston: 6 G, 0 HR, 0 RBI, .200 BA/.429 OBP/.200 SLG (.629 OPS)

2017 in Pawtucket: 53 G, 4 HR, 23 RBI, .190 BA/.246 OBP/.292 SLG (.539 OPS)

For Blake Swihart, 2017 was a season that he would rather forget.

After suffering a season-ending ankle injury in 2016, not many knew what to expect from Swihart. This compounded itself during spring training in 2017. Reports came out of camp that Swihart battling – what some were calling – “the yips.” An accompanying video then surfaced of Swihart overthrowing pitchers during bullpen sessions. This led to Swihart opening the season with Pawtucket, where he would stay until September call-ups.

The former top-prospect was a shell of himself in 2017. Swihart was not able to hit minor league pitching. He saw his OPS drop to a minor league career low. The Red Sox did not see the same power they were accustomed to seeing out of Swihart. So, when he was added to the roster, it came as a surprise. His performance far from merited the call-up. His natural position behind the plate was log-jammed by Sandy Leon and newly minted good hitter Christian Vazquez. The only other position he played in the bigs – left field – was secured by Andrew Benintendi. This led to Swihart only playing in six games, registering only five at-bats.

Spring Training in 2018 is going to be crucial for the 25-year old. If he can prove that his bat is still there, cementing his value behind the plate, he could push Leon out of a job. However, the switch-hitting catcher would have to gain the trust of the pitching staff in the same way Leon has. Which is unlikely. The Red Sox carrying three catchers in 2018 is even less likely.

VERDICT: Starts 2018 in Pawtucket.

ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA – JULY 30: Bryce Brentz (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images) /

BRYCE BRENTZ; OF

2017 in Pawtucket: 120 G, 31 HR, 85 RBI, .271 BA/.334 OBP/.529 SLG (.863 OPS)

In one of the stranger turn of events in 2017, Bryce Brentz was good again?

Outside of his two short stints in the majors, the 28-year olds career has been that of slight disappointment. Brentz has always been billed as a power hitter, with his main problem being strikeouts. You know what they say: “with great power comes not that great plate discipline.” Or something like that, I think.

MARCO HERNANDEZ; UTL INFIELDER

2017 with Boston: 21 G, 0 HR, 2 RBI, .276 BA/.300 OBP/.328 SLG (.628 OPS)

It’s easy to forget there even was a 2017 season for Marco Hernandez.

After only getting time in 21 games, Hernandez went to the DL with a left shoulder injury that ultimately required season-ending surgery.

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Hernandez began the season in AAA, but the Red Sox recalled him during the infield injury/deactivation flurry. He was originally recalled to play in the place of bereavement-listed Xander Bogaerts, logging 11 games in the middle infield. But, once Pablo Sandoval went down with his mid-April knee injury, Hernandez was moved to third base, playing nine games there before going down with his own injury.

His versatility as a middle-infielder made itself known, but so did his discomfort at the hot corner. In the games he did play at third base, he committed five of his six errors on the year. Woof. But, let’s put that behind us because his track in 2018 does not include third base.

Remember how I said that Pedroia will miss seven months? And how the best way to fill that need is by a platoon at second base? Hernandez would be perfect for that.

He sports a .284 lifetime average in MLB. Second base is his natural position, a position where he only committed one error there in 84.0 innings in 2017. If the Red Sox fill out the rest of the roster and are comfortable with mediocre offensive returns, then a platoon of the left-handed hitting Hernandez and righty Marrero is the way to go.

VERDICT: Starts 2018 in MLB, platoon at 2B.

BALTIMORE, MD – SEPTEMBER 18: Tzu-Wei Lin (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /

UTL TZU-WEI LIN

2017 with Boston: 25 G 0 HR, 2 RBI .268 BA/.369 OBP/.339 SLG (.709 OPS)

2017 in MiLB: 83 G, 7 HR, 28 RBI, .276 BA/.335 OBP/.410 SLG (.745 OPS)

I’d be hard-pressed to find a player that made me happier than Tzu-Wei Lin did over the summer.

Outside of Marrero, Lin was the best defensive infield prospect in the organization. So, when the Red Sox called Lin up in June, the media wrote the move off as one with infield defense in mind. And that made sense at the time, considering they battled so many injuries at those positions all season long.

Lin came to the majors with extremely low expectations. And then, all of the sudden, his bat happened.

Well, to be fair, outside of his two triples, he did not do much. But c’mon. Did you expect Tzu-Wei Lin to hit two triples? Did you even know who Tzu-Wei Lin was before he was called up?

In his time in the minors, split Portland and Pawtucket, he managed to hit 14 doubles, four triples, and swipe 10 bags, outperforming the ceiling everybody thought he had.

Pedroia missing time, unsurprisingly, is going to have a massive impact on the Red Sox in 2018. I’ve spoken ad nauseam. The obvious choices for this platoon are Marrero and one of either Lin or Hernandez. My head and the previous slide says Hernandez will be the second member of that second base timeshare. His time in the bigs shows he is the more polished player compared to Lin. But my heart says, Tzu-Wei Lin.

Next: Free agency could provide solution to bullpen problems

In a way, I think it always has. Give them what they want. Give them Tzu-Wei Lin.

VERDICT: Starts 2018 in AAA Pawtucket.

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