Very Long-Shots
There are always long-shot possibilities and one is Mookie Betts. Putting Betts at second base – his original professional position – would possibly depend on the Red Sox outfield configuration in 2019. I doubt that Aaron Judge or Mike Trout are coming to town so Mookie can rest with his one inning at second.
Blake Swihart played two innings at second this season and managed to survive. A strange position and a questionable bat will keep Swihart occupied with catching and the corners in the infield and outfield.
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Marco Hernandez apparently is in perpetual rehab after a series of brutal shoulder injuries. Hernandez – a 26-year-old lefty – can hit with a career .284 average in 116 plate appearances. The issue with Hernandez is no big surprise – defense. Hernandez has only 84 innings at second, but a -18.6 UZR/150 is not welcoming to pitchers.
Tony Renda physically appears like Pedroia with his size, but his athletic skill and history has the 28-year-old spending his career in Triple-A.
C.J. Chatham is a top ten Red Sox prospect that is a shortstop by trade. The 23-year-old righty had a .315 season in the minors – the very low minors. Realistically Chatham is a long shot at even making it to Triple-A in 2019.