Red Sox Infield Preview 2015: Xander Bogaerts Ready For Breakout Season?

Editor’s note: Red Sox pitchers and catchers report to spring training Friday. NESN.com will analyze Boston’s roster in four installments (outfield, infield, bullpen, starting rotation) in the days leading up to the players’ arrival.

The Boston Red Sox’s infield includes all walks of life.

There’s an expensive free-agent addition, a once-hyped prospect, a gritty franchise cornerstone, a slugger finally able to sleep OK and a defensive stud looking to advance offensively. All of it adds up to a unit with questions despite, unlike the outfield, being etched in stone before spring training.

Health, production and development are at the heart of Boston’s infield situation. The Red Sox are positioned to succeed this season, but one shouldn’t take anything for granted, especially on the heels of a 71-91 campaign.

Signing third baseman Pablo Sandoval to a five-year, $95 million contract was perhaps the Red Sox’s biggest offseason move. Will it have a trickle-down effect on the entire infield?

Whose jobs to lose?
Starters: Mike Napoli (first base), Dustin Pedroia (second base), Xander Bogaerts (shortstop), Pablo Sandoval (third base), Christian Vazquez (catcher)
Bench: Brock Holt (utility), Ryan Hanigan (catcher), Daniel Nava (outfield/first base)

There isn’t much to debate with regard to the infield, except for how each player will produce moving forward, who could enter the picture in the event of injuries and whether Boston will need to reevaluate the situation after this season. Each slot is filled with little room for competition.

Mike Napoli was banged up all last season and it was worse than anyone ever imagined. The first baseman’s sleep apnea pushed him to the brink of retirement, so it’ll be interesting to see whether there are any lingering effects, particularly in the power department. After all, Napoli went on an all-liquid diet this offseason and looked noticeably slimmer last month despite insisting he regained all of his lost weight.

Dustin Pedroia is coming off his worst season, which ended prematurely because of hand/wrist surgery. All systems are go for the 31-year-old, who had a normal offseason after back-to-back seasons with hand issues.

Expectations were sky-high for Xander Bogaerts last season after his breakout World Series. Boston’s former top prospect went through growing pains amid a tumultuous season in which he changed positions (and then changed back). The Red Sox have showed faith in Bogaerts and the 22-year-old is positioned to take a step forward in 2015.

Sandoval won three rings with the San Francisco Giants and became a beloved figure in the Bay Area. The switch-hitting third baseman is an excellent fit within the Red Sox’s offense — he’ll likely slot in behind Hanley Ramirez and ahead of Napoli — and his underrated defense could play a huge role in determining the success of Boston’s ground ball-inducing rotation.

Christian Vazquez already is sick defensively. He’s also emerging as a leader. The Red Sox can live with limited offensive production from the catching position, provided the rest of Boston’s lineup comes as advertised.

Brock Holt was a human Swiss Army knife last season. Expect him to play a similar role.

Ryan Hanigan was acquired from the San Diego Padres in exchange for third baseman Will Middlebrooks. The 34-year-old is a nice veteran complement to Vazquez behind the plate, and he’ll serve as an experienced bridge until the Red Sox decide what to do with top prospect Blake Swihart when the 22-year-old is deemed major league-ready.

Daniel Nava and Allen Craig are primed to battle for Boston’s final bench spot. Whichever one wins out will serve as both an extra outfielder and the Red Sox’s backup first baseman. Nava makes more sense given his familiarity with a bench role, his team-friendly contract and his success from the left side of the plate. Craig’s value is down after a disappointing 2014.

In the mix
Jemile Weeks, Garin Cecchini, Deven Marrero, Jeff Bianchi

Jemile Weeks, a utility player acquired from the Baltimore Orioles last season, has experience in the infield and outfield. He’ll begin the season at Triple-A Pawtucket and join the majors if Brock Holt gets injured or is thrown into a bigger role by virtue of someone else going down.

Jeff Bianchi, who signed last month, is a 28-year-old with 162 games of major league experience. He, like Weeks, can bounce around the diamond and provide organizational depth.

Third baseman Garin Cecchini made his major league debut in 2014. He’s on the outside looking in now that Sandoval is in the fold for the next five seasons, but the 23-year-old is one unforeseen event away from joining the majors. He also began learning the outfield last season.

Deven Marrero isn’t yet on the 40-man roster, but he’s major league-ready defensively. The 24-year-old could arrive on the scene in 2015 if he develops offensively and Bogaerts goes through an extended period of pronounced struggles. He, like Cecchini, also could be used as a trade chip.

Prospects to watch
Cecchini, Marrero, Sean Coyle, Wendell Rijo, Javier Guerra, Rafael Devers, Michael Chavis, Travis Shaw, Sam Travis, Blake Swihart

Cecchini and Marrero are on the cusp, with Cecchini already having made his debut.

Second baseman Sean Coyle was added to the 40-man roster this offseason, so he’s not far off. A September call-up isn’t out of the question, especially if the 23-year-old performs like he did in the first half of last season, when he hit .336 with 11 homers, 47 RBIs and a .997 OPS in 63 games.

Javier Guerra and Wendell Rijo — a pair of 19-year-old middle infielders — will begin the season at Single-A. They’re ranked No. 15 and No. 16, respectively, in SoxProspects.com’s rankings and should soon advance to the upper-level of the minors.

Rafael Devers has done nothing but rake since joining the organization as an international free agent in July 2013. The 18-year-old won’t sniff the majors for a while, but he’s already a top prospect worth keeping on the radar this season because of his imposing presence in the batter’s box.

Michael Chavis, who turns 20 in August, was the Red Sox’s first-round pick in 2014. His offensive potential should make him a top prospect within the organization before long, though it’s not a given that he’ll stay at shortstop. Either way, his bat will play anywhere.

Travis Shaw (turning 25 in April) and Sam Travis (turning 22 in August) are at different stages of their development. Each first baseman faces a golden opportunity this season, though, as Napoli is set to hit free agency next winter.

Swihart is the best catching prospect in baseball and on the verge of reaching The Show. He’s going to be special whenever he arrives.

2015 expectations
The Red Sox’s starting infield has three proven quantities (Sandoval, Pedroia and Napoli) and two players at the beginning of their respective careers (Bogaerts and Vazquez). Each of the veterans needs to answer questions this season, so it’s not as if the Red Sox automatically can bank on the trio being at its peak. But the safe money says Sandoval will produce, Pedroia will return to form and Napoli will benefit from his sleep apnea procedure.

If nothing else, the Red Sox’s infield should be in good shape defensively. Pedroia, Napoli and Sandoval all are good defenders, and Vazquez has the potential to be a game-changing catcher. The X factor — no pun intended, I swear — will be Bogaerts’ Year 2 jump, or lack thereof.