The Boston Red Sox finally have a starting third baseman.
Red Sox manager John Farrell told the media Thursday that Travis Shaw will get the job, while Pablo Sandoval will be sent to the bench on Opening Day. The third base job had been a hot point of conversation for most of spring training.
The move is not necessarily surprising, given Red Sox president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski was adamant that Boston would put the best player on the field rather than the player who was making the most money. Sandoval signed a five-year, $95 million contract last offseason and is set to make $17.6 million this season.
Shaw outperformed Sandoval offensively and defensively for much of spring training, but things recently became slightly unclear, as Shaw was in an 0-for-18 slump during Wednesday’s game against the Tampa Bay Rays, and Sandoval missed five games with a back injury. But in the end, Shaw’s .333 average, two home runs, 10 RBIs and relatively clean defense beat out Sandoval’s .244 average, two home runs and six RBIs.
The Red Sox open their season Monday against the Indians in Cleveland.
Thumbnail photo via Scott Rovak/USA TODAY Sports Images
