BOSTON — The Red Sox are willing to be creative when it comes to divvying up playing time.
Allen Craig is one of several players whose 2015 role remains undefined, but Boston is exploring the possibility of Craig playing some third base in addition to his usual role as a first baseman/outfielder/designated hitter. Craig has appeared in only four games at third base in his major league career and hasn’t played the position since 2011.
“We’ve had that conversation. He’s open to it,” Farrell said Thursday of Craig learning an unfamiliar position like third base. “The best thing about where Allen sits right now is he’s eager, he’s open to the work or the thought of third base, and we’ll see how that plays out, at least to answer the question in spring training. Where it goes from there remains to be seen, but this is a very talented player who’s having a good offseason physically.”
Craig, who was acquired at last season’s Major League Baseball non-waiver trade deadline, is coming off a disappointing 2014 campaign. He hit .215 with eight homers, 46 RBIs and a .594 OPS in 126 games split between the Red Sox and St. Louis Cardinals. The 30-year-old battled a foot injury, though, and Boston’s hope is that he’ll be able to return to his All-Star form following a productive winter.
After all, Craig produced a career-high 97 RBIs in 134 games in 2013, drilled a career-best 22 homers in 119 games in 2012 and posted an impressive .917 OPS in 75 games in 2011. He has a track record of big league success.
“I wouldn’t say (he’s) on the outside looking in,” Farrell said, looking at Boston’s roster construction. “He’s been an everyday player, as you mentioned, and talking to Allen throughout the winter, he’s aware of the role coming in.
“We may take a look at some things positionally from a defensive standpoint that gives him a chance to get more regular at-bats. But much like we talked about with the depth of the outfield, this is another situation that spring training will allow us to work itself out.”
Of course, if Craig plays some third base in 2015, he’ll likely do so sparingly. The Red Sox signed third baseman Pablo Sandoval to a five-year, $95 million contract this offseason, and Boston also has versatile utility man Brock Holt at its disposal. Craig’s third base experiment simply is designed to assess another potential avenue as the club deals with what currently looks like an outfield logjam.
Craig is under contract through the 2017 season. The Red Sox hold a $13 million club option for 2018.
Thumbnail photo via Kim Klement/USA TODAY Sports Images
