The Boston Red Sox are down to just one starter from their ideal Opening Day roster — Trevor Story, Triston Casas and Vaughn Grissom have all been sidelined with injuries, while Rafael Devers remains.
The Sox have been on a tear when it comes to adding infield depth On April 30, Boston traded for an additional infielder and it signed another who recently opted out of his previous contract.
The New York Mets have traded infielder Zack Short to Boston for cash considerations. Short's bat leaves something to be desired, but he can defend at second base, shortstop or third base, and the Red Sox can use all the help they can get in those areas.
Short is batting .111/.273/.111 in nine at-bats with the Mets and he's a career .224/.357/.400 hitter in Triple-A. He'll likely serve as a utility player, and possibly platoon with Enmanuel Valdez at second base until Grissom's debut.
Red Sox add Zack Short and Dominic Smith for infield depth
The #RedSox today acquired INF Zack Short from the New York Mets, in exchange for cash considerations.
— Red Sox (@RedSox) May 1, 2024
The Red Sox also added Dominic Smith, pending a physical. The 28-year-old recently requested his release from the Rays organization. The Mets drafted Smith in the first round of the 2013 draft, and he spent time in the Mets and Nationals organizations before singing a minor-league deal with the Rays this season.
Smith is a first baseman and he swings lefty, so he'll likely platoon with Garrett Cooper at first base when he returns from his recent hand injury. The Red Sox need to make space on the 40-man roster to accommodate Smith.
The first baseman is a career .248/.313/.407 hitter and his 2023 season with the Nationals was one of his best. Smith hit 12 homers and 21 doubles for Washington, however, he struck out 91 times.
The additions of Smith and Short may not bode well for Valdez or Bobby Dalbec, the two players most at risk of being optioned. Dalbec's defensive skillset is best suited to the corner infield slots, and Short can back up Devers at third while Smith platoons with Cooper at first.