When Jose Iglesias got traded, the door seemingly opened for Xander Bogaerts’ arrival or Will Middlebrooks’ return. Instead, the Red Sox have since gone with a combination of Brock Holt and Brandon Snyder down at third base.
Should the Red Sox continue to go with the Holt/Snyder platoon, or is it time for Boston to shake things up?
Holt and Snyder have both played hard since joining the Red Sox, and they’ve both contributed to victories. There has been a ton of debate about whether or not the Red Sox should go with someone with more upside instead, though, and both Bogaerts and Middlebrooks fall into that category.
Bogaerts is hitting .291 with eight home runs, 27 RBIs and a .380 on-base percentage in 51 games since being promoted to Triple-A Pawtucket back in June. He has a .301 average, .395 on-base percentage, 14 home runs and 62 RBIs in 107 minor league games overall (split between Portland and Pawtucket).
Bogaerts figures to be a future superstar, but he is still just 20 years old and doesn’t have any major league experience. Bringing him up in the midst of a pennant race before rosters expand in September requires some faith.
If the Red Sox ultimately decide that Bogaerts needs more seasoning, they could always go back to Middlebrooks, who was Boston’s starting third baseman to begin the season. Middlebrooks got off to a very rough start, which led to his demotion, but he has come around a bit in Pawtucket. The 24-year-old is hitting .269 with 10 home runs and 34 RBIs in 44 games with the PawSox.
Nothing says that the Red Sox have to make a change. After all, Boston is still winning ballgames, so perhaps staying with Holt and Snyder is the right move from a chemistry standpoint. We want to know what you think.
