The Boston Red Sox are calling an audible in regards to outfielders Yoenis Cespedes and Allen Craig.
The Red Sox originally planned to try Cespedes in right field while shifting Craig to left field with right fielder Shane Victorino sidelined for the remainder of the 2014 season. The club is nixing those plans for now.
Red Sox manager John Farrell said before Tuesday’s game against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park that Cespedes likely will stay in left field for the rest of this season. Craig, who currently is on the 15-day disabled list with a foot sprain, is expected to play right field upon returning.
“The one thing through conversation with both guys is they’re comfortable with the positions that they’ve played,” Farrell told reporters in Cincinnati. “Now, we know the dimensions in our ballpark will have some bearing on our ultimate decision, but I think it’s important for us right now to make sure that they transition and maintain a lot of that comfort.”
A shift to right field for Cespedes seemed logical — especially at Fenway Park — given his speed and his rocket arm. Both him and Craig still are adapting to life with their new team, though, and the Red Sox apparently would like to wait until spring training before experimenting with new positions.
“We’ve got two ways we could go,” Farrell said. “We could make a switch right now or we could take the full advantage in spring training in a ballpark that’s got exact dimensions where there’s less of an emphasis than in-season.”
Either way, Cespedes and Craig figure to be part of Boston’s 2015 outfield plans. That leaves questions surrounding Victorino, Jackie Bradley Jr. and Daniel Nava.
