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Red Sox Bold Predictions: Projecting the 2020 lineup

By Rick McNair

BOSTON, MA - OCTOBER 24: A general view as Matt Kemp #27 of the Los Angeles Dodgers bats against David Price #24 of the Boston Red Sox during the fourth inning in Game Two of the 2018 World Series at Fenway Park on October 24, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - OCTOBER 24: A general view as Matt Kemp #27 of the Los Angeles Dodgers bats against David Price #24 of the Boston Red Sox during the fourth inning in Game Two of the 2018 World Series at Fenway Park on October 24, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) /
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BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – APRIL 09: Dustin Pedroia #15 of the Boston Red Sox looks on during the ninth inning of the Red Sox home opening game at Fenway Park on April 09, 2019 in Boston, Massachusetts. The Blue Jays defeat the Red Sox 7-5. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – APRIL 09: Dustin Pedroia #15 of the Boston Red Sox looks on during the ninth inning of the Red Sox home opening game at Fenway Park on April 09, 2019 in Boston, Massachusetts. The Blue Jays defeat the Red Sox 7-5. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /

Second Base

Dustin Pedroia will again give it another whirl, but the reality is a Pedroia comeback is as likely as a Trump going into a no Tweet zone. That will leave second up for grabs with the one guarantee it will not be Chris Owings.

The second baseman of record for 2019 was Brock Holt who played 44% of the time at second with fellow lefty hitter Marco Hernandez accounting for 31% of the starts. Chavis did his spot duty with 18% of the starts and could shift to second as needed or with lineup manipulation.

Defensively Holt (6.2 UZR/150) and Hernandez (3.4 UZR/150) are similar with a metric analysis of defense, but Holt is the more legitimate and experienced bat. Holt is also a free agent and that means more pricey than Hernandez and you get into cost-cutting a nice savings.

Then there is C.J. Chatham – a shortstop by trade – who hit .302 with Pawtucket (AAA). Can Chatham play second? Can Chatham hit MLB pitching? Can I win the lottery? Chatham is no slouch defensively and will get service time at second in the Arizona Fall League.

If Pedroia is healthy and capable of 125+ games then second is a moot point for 2020, but I expect the Red Sox will hand the job to Hernandez and not re-sign Holt.  Chatham who could have a good spring and nose out his competition.

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