Carlos Peguero isn’t going to save the Boston Red Sox’s 2015 season. That’s not the point of Wednesday’s trade.
Acquiring Peguero from the Texas Rangers is a “why not?” transaction for the Red Sox, who desperately need another left-handed bat. Peguero could sink or swim in his new duds, but Boston needed to relinquish only cash in order to add a player with intriguing power, if nothing else.
The Red Sox admittedly will need to make far more substantial changes in the coming weeks if things don’t turn around, but Peguero was worth pulling out of the bargain bin because Daniel Nava failed to fulfill his usual role as a solid left-handed outfield option against right-handed pitching.
Abandoning switch-hitting out of spring training in favor of batting exclusively left-handed — a move Nava once likened to throwing darts at a board to see what sticks — proved detrimental, if anything, as the 32-year-old hit .159 with no homers, seven RBIs, a .440 OPS and 16 strikeouts in 73 plate appearances before landing on the 15-day disabled list Thursday with a left thumb strain.
Nava went through a similar rough patch to open 2014 before bouncing back upon returning to the majors, but his situation this season is complicated by the absence of another viable left-handed outfield option — Jackie Bradley Jr. still hasn’t shown he can hit big league pitching — and the fact he’s out of minor league options and the Red Sox thus would risk losing him by designating him for assignment.
Placing Nava on the DL in conjunction with acquiring Peguero marks an opportunity for the Red Sox to see whether they can catch lightning in a bottle. Peguero strikes out at an alarming rate (125 K’s in 313 career major league plate appearances) and he’s not much of an on-base threat (.262 career on-base percentage), but the 28-year-old has shown significant pop in the minors.
Sure, that doesn’t mean much. Plenty of players rake in the minors, only to then flop in The Show. But such a possibility doesn’t make Peguero any less worthy of a flier, especially given the low cost of acquisition and the Red Sox’s glaring offensive deficiencies.
Peguero launched 30 home runs in 104 games at Triple-A Omaha last season and has averaged one homer per 16.3 at-bats at the Triple-A level (83 in 1,349 ABs) in his career. He was especially impactful against right-handers in 2014, hitting .290 with 27 homers, 69 RBIs and a 1.018 OPS in 272 at-bats.
The worst-case scenario for the Red Sox? Peguero shows an inability to hit major league pitching, his tenure ends before it ever really starts and Nava returns in a couple of weeks like nothing ever changed.
The best-case scenario? Boston uncovers a decent bench/platoon option to fill one of its many needs, creating an interesting roster discussion for when Nava’s ready to return.
So again, why not?
Thumbnail photo via Kevin Jairaj/USA TODAY Sports Images
