Red Sox have a better playoff call-up option than Braiden Ward waiting in Fort Myers

Barring an unforeseen collapse or miracle, the Boston Red Sox will be heading to New York for the Wild Card series for the second consecutive season. After scoring just six runs in their three-game series against the Yankees last year — including a shutout in the decisive Game 3 — it figures that the offense will be the primary topic of conversation prior to the 2026 iteration of this epic playoff rivalry.

That's especially true right now, since the Red Sox have apparently completely lost their ability to hit in clutch situations over the past month. For reference, in nine of their first 15 games of September, they went hitless or managed just one hit with runners in scoring position.

That has a lot of people wondering: Is it time to do something drastic to shake up the run-production unit? Hence, the idea of calling up speed demon Braiden Ward has started to gain some traction recently, since he's managed a whopping 61 steals in 109 games in Worcester this year.

The problem, of course, is that the Red Sox need someone who can deliver hits with runners in scoring position, rather than just someone who can get in scoring position. And if a call-up is in the cards, it's clear that Romy Gonzalez is most deserving. He and Ward are both part of a "stay ready" squad the Red Sox have sent to Fort Myers in the event of a playoff call-up.

Romy Gonzalez has earned another stint with Red Sox following torrid stretch in Worcester

Gonzalez didn't have the easiest time in Boston earlier this year, posting a 59 wRC+ over 19 games after being activated off the 60-day injured list. Since being sent down to Triple-A to work on his game in early August, however, he was a total menace at the plate in the final weeks of the WooSox season: he hit .355/.410/.538 with 11 extra-base hits in just 93 at-bats.

That's the kind of run-producing bat the big-league club needs at the moment. There is merit in giving Ward a bench role in the playoffs — his speed and defense would be huge assets late in games — but nothing he provides would be as valuable as having Gonzalez's career 131 wRC+ against southpaws available at a moment's notice.

Another consideration? Ward, who has never played in the majors, isn't currently on the 40-man roster and would need to be added ahead of a playoff series, displacing someone else. That would probably be as simple as stashing Curtis Mead on the 60-day IL, but it would also begin Ward's service time clock just ahead of the impending lockout.

With all due respect to Ward, the Red Sox already made their call on him at the trade deadline, when they acquired a player with a very similar profile in Eli White. His injury may have seemingly opened the door for a call-up, but with runs at a premium in October, the wisest course of action is to go with the bat-first player with extensive MLB action under his belt.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow