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Red Sox History: A historical look at feast or famine at third base

By Rick McNair

Jul 13, 2021; Denver, Colorado, USA; American League third baseman Rafael Devers of the Boston Red Sox (11) laughs during the first inning against the American League during the 2021 MLB All Star Game at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 13, 2021; Denver, Colorado, USA; American League third baseman Rafael Devers of the Boston Red Sox (11) laughs during the first inning against the American League during the 2021 MLB All Star Game at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports /
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BOSTON, MA – JULY 28: Michael Chavis #23 of the Boston Red Sox makes a diving catch on Vladimir Guerrero Jr. #27 of the Toronto Blue Jays during the third inning of the first game of a doubleheader at Fenway Park on July 28, 2021 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo By Winslow Townson/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA – JULY 28: Michael Chavis #23 of the Boston Red Sox makes a diving catch on Vladimir Guerrero Jr. #27 of the Toronto Blue Jays during the third inning of the first game of a doubleheader at Fenway Park on July 28, 2021 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo By Winslow Townson/Getty Images) /

One Red Sox failure and one question mark

Just as Middlebrooks broke onto the stage with a bang, so did another potential right-hand slugger, Michael Chavis. In 2019, Chavis arrived with 18 home runs in 95 games, with many of those long shots among the statcast leaders. Chavis also whiffed 127 times, but that is an acceptable consequence in today’s version of swing from the heels.

Fast forward to 2021, and the once-promising Chavis is now with the Pittsburgh organization. In 2020, he hit just .212 and was at the .190 mark when Boston pulled the plug in 2021.  Just 26 years old, Chavis has time to get recentered.

The third base bandwagon also has Bobby Dalbec, who has now been positioned at first base. Dalbec – like Chavis – can mutilate a baseball when he makes contact. In 2020 the ultimate contact took place 25 times but also is the nasty consequences of free-swinging – 154 Ks and just 28 walks.

Next. Free agents the Red Sox should avoid. dark

Dalbec was in a sweet spot offensively the second half of 2021, and it may have been an apparition or possibly not? With Devers approaching the multi-year contract potential that could be $250 MM on up, you could see Dalbec return to his third base home.

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