Red Sox Rumors: Travis Shaw reunion would help rectify past mistake

The Boston Red Sox are considering bringing back Travis Shaw

The Boston Red Sox have expressed interest in free agent infielder Travis Shaw, reports WEEI’s Rob Bradford.

Shaw spent the first two seasons of his major league career in Boston, hitting .251 with a .754 OPS in 210 games.

Just as he was starting to emerge as a fan favorite, the Red Sox flipped Shaw to the Milwaukee Brewers in an ill-fated trade for reliever Tyler Thornburg. The concept of the deal seemed logical at the time. Boston signed Mitch Moreland to take over at first base heading into the 2017 season and they had Rafael Devers waiting in the wings for his opportunity at third base. Shaw was deemed as an expendable chip that could be used to fortify the bullpen.

The decision backfired when Thornburg’s tenure with the Red Sox turned out to be an injury-plagued disaster. The right-hander tossed only 42 2/3 innings over two seasons in Boston, producing a brutal 6.54 ERA.

Meanwhile, Shaw thrived in Milwaukee with consecutive seasons bashing over 30 home runs. While he wouldn’t have received enough playing time in Boston to match that type of production, watching him break out with the Brewers while Thornburg provided us with nothing cemented the trade as one of the worst in recent memory for this franchise.

Shaw’s production fell off a cliff in 2019 when he hit a meager .157 with a .551 OPS and seven home runs while battling injuries that limited him to 86 games.

The Toronto Blue Jays signed Shaw to a 1-year, $4 million deal after he was non-tendered by the Brewers. He didn’t quite return to form but his production last year in Toronto was a vast improvement over his final season in Milwaukee. Shaw hit .239 with a .717 OPS and six home runs in 50 games during the pandemic-shortened season.

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The Red Sox have been searching for a left-handed bat to platoon at first base with Bobby Dalbec. The rookie crushes lefties and held his own against right-handed pitching last year with a .245/.375/.528 line. He’s expected to see the majority of the playing time at first base but it wouldn’t hurt to back him up with a lefty who could spell him against tough right-handers.

Shaw fits the bill with a career .803 OPS against right-handed pitching that stands over 100 points higher than his production against lefties. The 30-year-old can still be a useful asset in a part-time role.

The Red Sox value versatility and that could give Shaw an advantage over other free-agents such as Mitch Moreland, another familiar face rumored to be on Boston’s radar. Shaw is about average or slightly better at either corner infield spot. The Red Sox could use both he and Shaw in the same lineup on days when Devers needs a breather. The same can be said if J.D. Martinez needs a day off, with Devers sliding into the DH role.

The Red Sox don’t have much room in the payroll beneath the competitive balance tax threshold but Shaw should be an affordable option who would fit easily into the budget.

Red Sox fans still cringe at the mention of the trade that shipped Shaw out of town. While that mostly stems from the disdain toward Thornburg, a reunion with Shaw would be a small step toward rectifying that past mistake.