Boston Red Sox: Bobby Dalbec’s potential outweighs Anthony Rizzo trade
The way the media (and many Boston fans) see it, the Boston Red Sox need a boost at first base. Considering their level of success in 2021 if the worst part of their team is at first base, how bad of a situation are they really in?
As we quickly approach the trade deadline of July 30th, the AL East leaders are going to be buyers. The Chicago Cubs on the other hand are looking to sell sell sell. With the likes of Craig Kimbrel, Kris Bryant, Anthony Rizzo and Javier Baez, the Cubs could really show out.
The Cubs are coming off of a not so distant 11 game losing streak. When things like that happen in the major leagues, the guys in charge start going back to the drawing board. It looks like Chicago is gearing up for a rebuild. What good is having all those stars on the team when you lose 11 straight?
The rumor of Anthony Rizzo coming full circle back to Boston has been all the rage lately. Even the Chicago Cubs think he is a great fit for the Red Sox.
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The fans love Bobby Dalbec, but he hasn’t really lived up to expectations that were set for him at the beginning of the season.
According to FanGraphs, the Boston Red Sox have the lowest WAR (Wins Above Replacement) for first base in MLB at -1.3. The only teams close to touching this are the Minnesota Twins and Arizona Diamondbacks with a -0.5 WAR themselves.
With a lack of production like that, usually a player would be relegated to AAA to work on their skill some more, but that hasn’t been the case with Dalbec for some reason.
Rizzo on the other hand is a World Series Champ, 3 time All-Star, and 4 time Gold Glove winner. He could bring a lot of good things to the table for the Boston Red Sox. No doubt about it. Dalbec has nothing under his belt. However I just am not sure if I am sold on the move.
Would a trade for Anthony Rizzo actually benefit the Boston Red Sox?
Let’s take a look at each player’s stats this year.
57 H, 10 HR, 36 RBI, Batting .221, .263 OBP, and .666 OPS
72 H, 11 HR, 35 RBI, Batting .239, .339 OBP and .758 OPS
Rizzo is a proven veteran of the game, but as we can see from the stats above, he really isn’t having a much better season than our current first baseman situation. He’s aging quickly and has also dealt with a slew of back problems. Is that something the Red Sox really want to take a chance on for basically Bobby Dalbec a year from now?
However, given Dalbec’s plethora of strikeouts this season, Rizzo could move in his spot and offset that trend. He has a history of being clutch in big moments, and he could use his glove and bat for one last gasp at greatness in a Red Sox uniform to give Boston the edge they need to make it to the World Series.
To be logical, Boston’s biggest weakness is a rookie first baseman with incredible power and a ceiling miles high. Rizzo may be the best immediate fit, but given the circumstances and where this Red Sox team is at in the standings with Dalbec on the roster, it is worth cooling down on all of this talk about a great hero first baseman that Anthony Rizzo still COULD be. That has yet to be seen this season, and his best days are very likely behind him. Dalbec’s is just ahead.
Next. 3 Twins players to target at MLB Trade Deadline. dark
Carlos Santana of the Kansas City Royals and Jonathan Schoop of the Detroit Tigers should be looked at as possibilities for Chaim Bloom as well.
Practicing patience with players has made this team into the World Series contenders that they currently are. The same patience needs to be taken with Bobby Dalbec at the moment as well, even if that means holding off on a trade for Anthony Rizzo.