Clearly, few players are capable of replacing Youkilis, who has been one the game’s best all-around players – never mind first basemen – the past three seasons. He has consistently boasted one of the league’s best OPS and on-base percentages, in addition to playing stellar defense at first base, or even third base when called upon.
So when he went down with a hand injury that requires surgery and will force him to miss the remainder of the 2010 campaign, the Sox immediately had to wonder who can make up at least a portion of his production.
Mike Lowell’s return to the team is certainly welcomed, as he can currently be implanted as a short-term fix alongside the versatile Victor Martinez. But the Sox have shown a lack of confidence in his ability to stay healthy, and they would probably prefer to see Martinez log most of his time behind the plate (although a permanent move to first base may soon be on the horizon for the 31-year-old).
A left-handed first baseman with pop would certainly be the ideal acquisition for the Red Sox, but who can they realistically acquire in August to plug in at least from time to time in place of Youkilis? The non-waiver trade deadline has passed, which complicates matters, and it is relatively slim pickings in terms of players available. But here are a few players that the Red Sox could potentially pursue in the coming days and weeks to log some playing time down at first.
Carlos Delgado
OK, so the guy is 38 years old and not exactly the same player who used to wreak havoc on American League pitching, but he is available and his agent has said that Delgado would be thrilled to have the opportunity to play in Boston. And the interest is reportedly mutual, with Delgado working out for the team at Yankee Stadium on Friday. The White Sox are also believed to be interested.
But can Delgado really help this team? He certainly fits the mold of a left-handed, power-hitting first baseman, but we haven’t seen him play since May 10 of last season. Add to that the concerns about his hip and back – similar to Lowell – and it is really a crapshoot when talking about what he can bring to the table.
Keep in mind, though, that Delgado hit 38 home runs and drove in 115 RBIs as recently as 2008, when he ranked ninth in the National League MVP voting. Even in limited action in 2009, he wasn’t all that bad (four home runs, 23 RBIs, .298 average, .393 on-base percentage in 94 at-bats). The concern would be the health, but with a platoon situation alongside Lowell, Delgado’s body shouldn’t experience much wear and tear the rest of the way.
Daric Barton
A lot was expected of Barton, who was a first-round draft pick in 2003. But the Oakland Athletics’ first baseman has failed to live up to the hype thus far. In 317 career games, Barton is a .257 hitter with 21 home runs and 117 RBIs to his credit. This season, he has five home runs and 38 RBIs to go along with a .271 batting average. His career .359 on-base percentage is even less stellar.
But Barton is still only 24 years old, and this marks only his second full season with the A’s, though his 2008 season wasn’t pretty. He was expected to be a guy who would hit for average and walk often — essentially satisfying A’s GM Billy Beane‘s “moneyball” needs — but he has regressed quite a bit since he was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals and traded to Oakland in 2004 as part of the Mark Mulder deal.
Barton was placed on waivers Thursday, and according to The Boston Globe’s Nick Cafardo, the Red Sox could potentially be a suitor.
Casey Kotchman
Sure, we’ve been down this road before. Kotchman appeared in 35 games for the Sox last season, hitting a dismal .218 and boasting an even-worse .284 on-base percentage. But the 27-year-old is a solid defensive option and could fit the run-prevention mold that the Red Sox tried to instill early in the season.
Not to mention Kotchman is a left-handed bat, and could most likely be had a very low cost given this season’s struggles, his low value and the direction that the last-place Mariners are heading.
MLBTradeRumors.com speculated that Kotchman’s teammate Russell Branyan would likely be the more attractive option for the Red Sox, but that another team would likely put a claim in for him first. Branyan, also a lefty, hit 31 home runs last season and has shown the ability to hit for power throughout his career, although he often accumulates a high strikeout total.
It appears as though, for now, the Red Sox will go with a Lowell-Martinez combo, with Jed Lowrie potentially lending a hand. In the near future, we may see the likes of Jarrod Saltalamacchia or Lars Anderson come up from Pawtucket to give the team some more options.
But at some point, the Red Sox will have to make a move, and they may look outside the organization in order to do so. Certainly Adam Dunn would be the ideal choice, and even Garrett Jones or Adam LaRoche would seem enticing. But those options appear outside the realm of possibility, and the Red Sox are going to have trouble finding a true impact player at this point in the season.
Delgado, given his history and status as a free agent, could be the most realistic and best option despite being an injury-prone 38-year-old.
Nevertheless, what direction the team elects to go remains to be seen. But a decision will need to be made soon because the hole at first base is there and it isn’t going anywhere.
