5 under the radar Boston Red Sox free agent options

SS Ryan Goins

The Boston Red Sox will be without Dustin Pedroia to begin the 2018 campaign, and they will need some help from utility middle infielders. Brock Holt and Eduardo Nunez make sense for Boston to fill this role, but if they want to go in another direction they could be interested in Ryan Goins. He’ll turn 30 before the 2018 season, but he’s only been in the major leagues for 5 full seasons.

In 2017, Goins hit .237 with 9 home runs and 62 RBI for the Toronto Blue Jays, but he’s even more important as a defender. He appeared in 87 games as a  shortstop and 56 as a second baseman last season, and he committed just 7 errors in 504 chances. That .986 fielding percentage would be huge for Boston while Pedroia is out.

Brock Holt is recovering from ongoing vertigo he experienced last season, so he will bounce back, but Eduardo Nunez is the best choice hands down. After joining the Red Sox late last season, he hit .321 with 8 home runs and 27 RBI in just 38 games. So, middle infield is not a huge need for Boston, but it is something to keep your eyes on.